Game 55 Recap-
The Pittsburgh Pirates brought their hitting gloves to the park and pounded the St. Louis Cardinals, 14-4 at Busch Stadium in Missouri. The club pummeled rookie emergency starter, RH Mike Parisi(taking the spot of veteran Joel Piniero) for 8 hits and 8 runs with 3 walks and 2 strike outs over 2 2/3 innings plus. Long man rh Kelvin Jimenez took his spot and continued the abuse of the baseball, as the boys in black and yellow tagged him for 6 hits and 5 runs over his 3 1/3 innings of work. He walked one and struck out 2 while allowing 3 homers.
RF Xavier Nady got the ball rolling in the first with a 3 run double. Resurgent 3b Jose Bautista(.274 May after .195 April) singled him home for a 4-0 lead. After Cardinals 3b Troy Glaus homered in the 2nd, the Pirates put the game out of reach in the 3rd. Following C Ronny Paulino’s rbi single, utility man Luis Rivas hit his 3rd homer of the season, a grand slam to make it 9-1. The boys never looked back and added 5 more runs in the game, hi lighted by 2 2 run shots, 1 each by 2b Freddy Sanchez(5th) and Paulino(6th).
Tough luck Pirates LH Paul Maholm finally got some runs! The team has scored 3 runs or fewer in 7 of his 10 starts. In his previous 3 games, they scored 4 — all in one game vs the Cubs! This young veteran has deserved better, with a respectable 4.74 era. He pitched into the 7th, with 6 2/3 innings of work, allowing 4 hits and 1 run with 5 strikeouts. RH longman Franquelis Osoria(4.46 era) took over and gave up 3 garbage runs. LH John Grabow needed some work and pitched a clean ninth with 2 Ks to seal this solid team win, 14-4.
Star of the Game-
Whole Pirates lineup- some highlights: Nady 3 run double, Sanchez 3 hits,2 runs and rbi, Rivas grand slam, Bautista 4 hits, 2 runs, rbi and Paulino with 3 hits and rbi plus 2 runs. Awesome performance.
Pirates Notes-
Game featured season highs for hits(19) and runs….Most runs Pirates have scored since last August 1st, also against the Cardinals… Rivas was starting for SS Jack Wilson, whose tricky calf injury has acted up… Bautista had 4 hits for the first time in his career
Next Game-
Sunday-2:15 - Busch Stadium
Pirates RH Ian Snell(2-4,5.46) vs Cardinals RH Braden Looper(6-4,5.05)
