McDonald eats up Reds

James McDonald continues his breakout season as he shut the Cincinnati Reds out for eight innings in moving to 4-2 on the season as the Pirates moved back to the .500 mark with a 4-1 Memorial Day victory.
Pittsburgh won their fourth game in a row with the victory.
Joel Hanrahan notched the final out of the game for his 12th save of the season.
Pittsburgh will attempt to move over .500 tonight with Charlie Morton against the Reds Homer Bailey.

Pirate Hooks

1)  James McDonald seems to be maturing before our eyes as a potential top notch starter.
You know what I liked even more than the eight shutout innings?
McDonald worked his way out of several jams in the early innings,didn't allow a run and was downright terrific in the final three innings of his game...

2) Pedro Alvarez hit two doubles and moved his hitting streak to six games.
Sunday's game was the first multi-hit game of the streak,so it still is not like Alvarez is ripping the cover off the ball,but signs are encouraging after a Saturday homer.

3) The Pirates are starting to think about a promotion for Jordy Mercer from Indianapolis,The Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reports that Yamaico Navarro might the leading candidate to be demoted.
I would like to see Mercer get a shot,but only if he will get regular at bats,not to be the backup to the ice cold Clint Barmes...

4) Cutting this a little short,it's late and my head is killing me.
Sorry again,but I did not feel that well today and I need to pick up before today's trip to Harrisburg...

Photo Credit:Gene Puskar_AP Photo