Game 129 Recap-
SS J.J Hardy’s rbi single scored 2b Richie Weeks to give the Milwaukee Brewers an exciting 4-3 win over the Pittsburgh Pirates in 12 innings at Miller Park in Wisconsin. Hardy hit the pitch from RH Jason Davis(1-4,3.75) to center to get the win on his own bobblehead day, “It’s just a coincidence that it’s bobble day for me that it happened, but it’s nice to have that many fans out there and win a ball game like that,” said Hardy, who finished 3-for-5. CF Mike Cameron led Milwaukee with a 5 for 5 day(homer, 2 rbi) while 3b Bill Hall also had 3 hits for the winners.
This was a very strange game, although 7 runs scored we had 31 total hits(16 by the Pirates) to go with 6 walks(2 by Milwaukee) but both staffs sucked it up and got outs in big spots. Both clubs started their aces and LHs Pirates Paul Maholm(8-7,3.62) and Brewers CC Sabathia(8-0,1.59 in the NL) were both great over 6 innings. Maholm allowed 12 hits and 2 runs with 5 Ks and 2 walks. Sabathia is more flashy but in this game, was also more effective. He gave up 8 hits and 1 run with 5 Ks. Both #1s threw 96 pitches, with CC throwing 64 strikes to Maholm’s 61.
CF Nyjer Morgan had 3 hits to pace the Pirates, while SS Jack Wilson, C Ryan Doumit , RF Jason Michaels and rookie LJ Brandon Moss all had 2 hits apiece. Doumit singled in the game’s 1st run, with Milwaukee answering in the 6th with 2 runs via rbi singles from Cameron and pinchhitter Gabe Kapler. The team exchanged rbi from CFs(homer by Cameron in the 8th, single from Morgan in the 7th) to make the score 3-2 Brewers.
Flu ridden CF Nate McLouth tied the game with a pinch hit single, handing Salomon Torres(6-3, 2.68,25 saves) his 6th blown save in the 9th after Luis Rivas got on with a single and advanced to 2nd on a wild pitch. Both pens held up until the 12 and Weeks walked with one out and then stole 2nd to set up Hardy’s hit. The Pirates blew a golden opportunity to win the game in the top of the frame when they loaded the bases with no outs. But a shallow fly out, K and ground out failed to produce a run.
Star of the Game-
Hardy and Cameron- The CF for his huge 5 for 5 day and JJ for a game winner on his promotion day
Pirates Notes-
Adam Laroche and Manager John Russell got ejected for arguing balls and strikes in the 5th, Russell’s 1st career ejection came at the hands of home plate umpire Bob Davidson. “Bob continued to agitate the situation by coming toward our dugout and yelling,” Russell said. “They were exchanging words, we got Adam, pushed him down the dugout and he stopped talking and Bob kept coming. I didn’t think it was handled right.” Doug Mientkiewicz took his spot at 1b….Luis Rivas played 2b and was 1 for 6,batting 8th while Chris Gomez also subbed in for Andy Laroche at 3b, batting 7th and also going 1 for 6…4 Pirates relievers(Bautista,Capps,Grabow,Yates) allowed 2 hits in 5 frames, before Davis’ was touched for a run in the 12
Next Game-
Monday, start 3 game series vs the 1st place Chicago Cubs at PNC Park
Pirates RH Jeff Karstens(2-2,2.25) vs Cubs LH Ted Lilly(12-7,4.25)
