Game 79 Recap-
The ever improving Tampa Bay Rays used their tremendous pure talent to ruin the ML debut of Jimmy Barthmaier,10-5 at PNC Park Friday. Super stud 3b Evan Longoria(1st) & RF Eric Hinske(3rd) both hit 3 run shots and it was quickly 6-0 Tampa. Power starter, Rays LH Scott Kazmir(7-3,2.28) worked hard over 5 innings(103 pitches) while allowing 5 hits, 4 runs(3 earned) with 4 Ks and 2 walks.
The Rays jumped all over young Barthmaier, who lasted 2 1/3 + innings, giving up 7 hits & 7 runs with 2 Ks and 2 walks. C Dioner Navarro’s rbi double ended his day in the 3rd to make it 7-0. The Pirates rallied for 4 in the 4th, 2b Freddy Sanchez homered to lead off the inning. 1b Chris Gomez singled in the 2nd run and SS Jack Wilson followed with a run single.
Rays LF Carl Crawford homered in the 7th off of LH Sean Burnett(0-0,5.73) to make it 8-4 Tampa. Wilson just missed a homer to center in the 6th, settling for an rbi double. The Rays closed out the scoring in the 7th after 1b Carlos Pena(sacrifice fly) and SS Jason Bartlett(single) collecting rbi.
Star of the Game-
Longoria-4 for 5, 3 rbi, 3 runs, walk— Great, great talent that will only get better
Pirates Notes-
Wilson led the team with 2 hits… New acquisition RH Denny Bautista(trade this week with the Detroit Tigers) made his debut, getting one out before leaving after taking a linedrive off of his elbow…RF Xavier Nady,who started in Thursday’s cancelled game, pinch hit after missing 10 games with a shoulder injury… Barthmaier was demoted post game & RH Ty Taubenheim recalled from Triple A
Next Game-
Saturday 7:05 PNC Park
Pirates RH John Van Benschoten(0-2,9.39) vs Rays RH Edwin Jackson(4-6,4.35)
