Game 99 Recap-
Pirates 2b Freddy Sanchez 3 run inside the park home run hi-lighted a 7 run uprising in the 9th to rally Pittsburgh past the Houston Astros 9-3 Monday at Minute Maid Park. The rally occurred vs Astros closer Jose Valverde(4-3,4.86, 6th blown save), who over a 1/3 of an inning, allowed 5 hits(2 homers) & 6 runs.
Pirates RH SP John Van Benschoten(1-2,8.27) battled for 5 innings in one of his better appearances of the year. He allowed 6 hits and 3 runs(2 earned) with 4 Ks and 4 walks. LF Carlos Lee drove in 2(rbi singles in the 3rd & 5th) , while C Brad Ausmus added an rbi double in 4th for Houston.
Houston SP,RH Runelvys Hernandez(0-3,8.38) pitched well over 5 1/3 innings, he gave up 8 hits and 2 runs with 3 Ks and 2 walks. LF Jason Bay drove in a run in the 1st with a single and 2b Freddy Sanchez added an rbi single in the 5th. The Astros pen had the game set up perfectly going to the 9th and Valverde. Bay homered to tie, then 1b Adam Laroche followed with a 2 run shot and it was suddenly 5-3 Pirates. SS Jack Wilson then drove in another run with a single to make the score 6-3. Sanchez then hit a drive to RF that bounced off the fence , evading OF Hunter Pence and allowed Freddy to score.
Underrated Stars-
Pirates bullpen-
HUGE part of this win, LHs Sean Burnett & John Grabow, as well as RH Tyler Yates & Denny Bautista allowed 4 hits and no runs over 4 innings, backing Van Benschoten’s strong start
Star of the Game-
Sanchez-3 hits, 4 rbi, 2 runs
Pirates Notes-
Bay has moved to 8th place on the club’s all time list at 137, he also has 10 RBi in the past 10 games….Sanchez has 3 homers in 11 Minute Maid Park games ….Sanchez was out at the plate vs the Cubs earlier this season attempting an inside the parker…Bay’s 4 hits led the team
Next Game-
Tuesday, 8:05, Minute Maid Park
Pirates LH Paul Maholm(6-6,4.10) vs Astros RH Jack Cassel(1-0,6.28)
