Game 138 Recap-
RH Ian Snell pitched 6 strong and trade deadline acquisitions Brandon Moss and Andy Laroche homered, leading the Pittsburgh Pirates over the Cincinnati Reds, 3-2 Tuesday night at Great American Ball Park in Ohio. The win broke a 10 game winless streak for the Pirates and Moss commented postgame, “Basically, we’ve been pressing the last few games,” said Moss, who had a career-high three hits and is hitting .366 (15-for-41) with four home runs and six RBI in his last 11 games. “It’s hard enough playing baseball and winning games without pressing. It’s a roller-coaster with ups and downs, and we’ve been on a prolonged down.”
After top prospect Chris Dickerson homered to lead off the game for the Reds(his 5th and 2nd leading off a game), Snell settled down and was outstanding over 6 innings. He allowed 7 hits and 2 runs(1 earned) with 5 Ks and 2 walks. His mound counterpart, Aaron Harang(4-15,5.24) continued his tough season, and was touched for his 30 and 31st home runs of the season. His final stat line was not bad overall, however: over 6 innings, he gave up 5 hits and 3 runs with 4 strikeouts and 2 walks.
Moss(#6) and Laroche(#5) provided the power in the 2nd and their manager was pleased, “Brandon’s made a lot of strides, I think,” Pirates manager John Russell said, adding that hitting coach Don Long has been working with him on not chasing pitches.”He’s even laying off strikes — pitches that aren’t good hitting pitches — and that’s helping him center the ball. Andy’s coming along as well.”
The Reds answered the homers with a run in the bottom of the inning on a single,steal and error followed by an rbi single from OF Corey Patterson to tie the game at 2. Harang did the unthinkable to lead off the 3rd, he walked the oppositions starting pitcher! The Pirates made him pay as Snell’s walk came back to cost the Reds. After a double by Nyjer Morgan got him to third, CF Nate McLouth’s ground out plated him for the decisive run.
The Pirates pen did a great job preserving the lead and Russell mixed and matched to maximize the talents of his relief corps. LH Sean Burnett(5th hold,5.21) pitched a third and RH Denny Bautista(5th hold,4.22) K-ed his two batters in the 7th. LH Jon Grabow(12th hold,3.00) was strong in the 8th with a K. Closer Matt Capps(3.45) pitched a 1-2-3 inning for his 18th save.
Star of the Game-
Snell- has pitched well in the the last month(4.67 August ERA) and won 2 of his last 3 starts
Pirates Notes-
SS Luis Cruz, called up from Triple A, singled in his first ML plate appearance in the 1st, he hit in the 2 hole… McLouth stole his 15th base…Moss’ 3 hits led the club…1b Adam Laroche was robbed of a homer by Patterson in the 6th
Next Game-
Wednesday, 2nd game of 3 game series at Cincinnati
Pirates RH Ross Ohlendorf(1-1,6.53)vs Reds RH Edinson Volquez(16-5,3.04)
