Bud Norris-Bucco Killer

I wrote that I was looking forward to seeing two of my favorite pitchers go at it Friday night in Pittsburgh and the results were worth it even if the wrong team won.
Bud Norris worked his way out of two jams without allowing a run and James McDonald allowed just one run over eight innings (that on a double play ball) as the pair dueled in a 1-0 Houston win.
McDonald picked up the hard luck loss (2-2) despite striking out eight and allowing just four hits.
Same two teams tonight at PNC Park.
Charlie Morton for Pittsburgh,JA Happ for the Astros.

Pirate Hooks

1) Tough break for James McDonald,who allowed the games only run in the second inning as the Pirates allowed a run to score in order to turn a double play to clear the bases.
McDonald's ERA is now in the low two's and has improved,in my opinion, from one thing-McDonald is attacking with the fastball earlier in the count.
With improved control,that goes a long way.

2) McDonald's eight fans on the evening increased his string of seven strikeouts or more to four games.
Not bad at all...

3) Bud Norris.
I know,I seem to be one of the few guys high on him,but he seems to be such as unnoticed pitcher.
Norris whiffed eight over six innings and I love his slider.
Maybe the Pirates can get him over the winter since the Astros are moving to the AL?
I doubt it,but I think it would be a smart move,put him on a better team and he wins 15 games easy,oh better team,,,never mind...

4) Stupid base running killed Pittsburgh in this game.
The biggest stab?
Jose Tabata,after a triple,breaks for home on a grounder to Chris Johnson and is thrown out easily.
Add to that Josh Harrison being picked off after being inserted into the lineup as a pinch runner for Rod Barajas in the eighth and the base running was less than stellar...

5) Loved the relay from Tabata to Neil Walker to Pedro Alvarez to just nab Jed Lowrie at third as the Astro shortstop tried to stretch a double to a triple.
That was just the way that a coach hopes to see that play after the endless number of drills that you do...

6) After the game,the Pirates bought Jeff Larish from Boston and assigned Larish to Indianapolis.
Not exactly an earth shaking maneuver...

Photo Credits;Gene Puskar-AP Photo