Game 84 Recap-
On a night when the team learned closer Matt Capps would be gone for up to 2 months(see today’s breaking story) , the bats picked it up. RF Xavier Nady had 2 homers and 4 rbi to lead the Pirates to a 9-5 win over the Cincinnati Reds Thursday at Great American Ball Park in Ohio. The win gave them back to back road wins for the 2nd time this season and also gave them the series victory at 2-1. 3b Jose Bautista also homered for the Pirates.
This was a huge win, the team was down with the Capps’ injury news. “Everybody was disappointed in the situation,” manager John Russell said, referring to Capps going on the disabled list. “They felt bad for him. He’s a big part of our bullpen. He’s not only the closer, but a leader out there.” With the popular closer out for a while, look for the team to use a committee to close games- LH Damaso Marte(32 career saves), RH Tyler Yates or maybe even rookie RH Romulo Sanchez(save Tuesday).
The homers and hits came often in this game with 2 young starters and a hitter friendly park in play. RH John Van Benschoten started the game and was ineffective over 2 1/3, he allowed 5 hits and 5 runs with 3 homers allowed. Rookie CF Jay Bruce(1st) and LF Adam Dunn(2nd) homered for the Reds after the Pirates plated 4 in the 1st. Two scored on ground outs while LF Jason Bay(single) and 2b Luis Rivas(double) has run producing hits. Bruce homered again in the 2nd with 2 on to end the night for Van Benschoten(1-10 in starts over his career).
Reds starter, rh Daryl Thompson pitched deeper into the game but was also ineffective. He last 4+( 4 1/3 innings) with 8 hits and 7 runs allowed. Nady got his 2 homers off of the youngster, a solo in the 3rd and 2 run shot in the 5th. The Pirates bullpen was outstanding tonight(they will need to be with 4 regular pitchers on the DL), new comer, RH Denny Bautista(1-0,2.70 era) got the win with 3 1/3 innings of 1 hit ball. LH Sean Burnett(5.18) and John Grabow(8 holds,3.37) combined for 2 1/3 innings of hitless ball. The Pirates added two more insurance runs on a rbi triple from 1b Adam Laroche and Bautista’s 9th inning homer. RH Tyler Yates capped the win with a game ending strikeout and HUGE win for the boys in Black and Gold.
Star of the Game-
Nady- 2 homers and 4 RBI
Pirates Notes-
Nady’s 2nd multi-homer game of the year(5 career), last time was March 31 in Atlanta… Nady led the team with 3 hits, 4 others had 2 hits each
Next Game-
Team is off Thursday
Start a 3 game series at Miller Park vs the Milwaukee Brewers Friday
2:05 Start for the 4th of July holiday
Pirates LH Tom Gorzelanny(6-6,6.18) vs Brewers RH Ben Sheets(9-2,2.83)
