Game 98 Recap-
The Pittsburgh Pirates plated 3 runs in the 1st vs Rockies ace Aaron Cook but the Colorado batters picked him up, helping the club sweep the 4 game weekend series, 11-3 at Coors Field. Jeff Baker and Matt Holliday homered for the home team & the Colorado batters collected 15 hits vs 4 Pittsburgh pitchers.
Veteran RH Cook,12-6, 3.58, was the story of this game. He pitched 3 innings for his manager Clint Hurdle in the All Star game Tuesday & did not appear sharp early. CF Nate McLouth (rbi single), LF Jason Bay(rbi double play) & 1b Adam Laroche(rbi single) plated runs in the 1st. Cook recovered and gave up 1 more hit in the remaing 6 innings. “That first inning, I was a little geeked up trying to throw the ball a little too hard coming off the All-Star break. I was out of rhythm,” Cook said. “I was rushing, getting the ball up in the zone. I was trying to do too much, throw too hard.”
The Rockies started the comeback in the 4th vs starter LH Zach Duke(4-7,4.92), who had retired the 1st 10 batters of the game but then gave up 9 runs over the next 16 batters. Holliday & C Chris Iannetta doubled in runs to cut the lead to one at 3-2. The Rockies took the lead for good in the 5th with a 4 run inning. 3b Ian Stewart’s rbi double tied the game & back to back homers by Baker(2 run) and Holliday had the score at 6-3.
Duke came out for the 6th but was gone after Stewart doubled in two more runs.The veteran lefty’s stat line: 5 innings, 10 hits, 9 runs with 5 ks and 1 walk. Colorado added 3 more runs off of the Pirates pen with a single run in the 6th(sacrifice fly) & an 8th inning 2 run double from 1b Garrett Atkins. The Pirates have lost 5 in a row & 6 of 7. “It’s unfortunate we aren’t scoring or hitting,” Pittsburgh manager John Russell said. “We’ll come out of it.”
Star of the Game-
Cook- Shows you can pitch in Coors Field! 7 innings, 5 hits, 3 runs with 2 Ks and 1 walk
Pirates Notes-
6 hitters had 1 hit apiece…Doug Mientkiewicz started at 3b and was 1 for 3 with a double and walk….LH Phil Dumatrait will not come off the DL Thursday, his left shoulder is still bothering him and he has not resumed throwing
Next Game-
Monday start a 3 game Series vs Houston at Minute Maid Park
Pirates RH John Van Benschoten(1-2,9.77) vs Astros RH Runelvys Hernandez(0-3,10.29)
