Game 106 Recap-
Veteran Pirate RH Ian Snell rallied from a tough spot and helped Pittsburgh defeat the NL Champion Colorado Rockies, 8-4 Monday at PNC Park. Snell allowed a 2 run shot to reigning NL MVP LF Matt Holliday in the first and another run in the 2nd after a rbi single by CF Wily Tavarez, he retired 14 of the next 17 batters he faced. “I was focusing on throwing strikes, that was it,” Snell said. “It was a team effort. Everybody pitched in. I helped my team stay in the game. That was my job.”
Snell(4-8,6.04), who signed a big contract extension in the offseason & won 23 games over 2007-2008, has had a tough season and with all of the injuries and young pitchers around him, a strong 2nd half would bolster the Pirates greatly. Over 7 innings, he allowed 8 hits & 4 runs with 8 strikeouts and 1 walk. “We know he can pitch,”Pittsburgh Manager John Russell said. “He’s proven it. He’s just had a tough time this year. It was nice to see him win tonight. That’s what we’ve been looking for. Hopefully, it’s a turning point.”
The Pirates rallied around Snell and put together a comeback, starting in the 5th. Rockies starter, LH Valerio de Los Santos(0-2,4.50) had a high pitch count and tired, he had control issues all night with 6 walks. C Ryan Doumit doubled in 2 runs,1b Doug Mientkiewicz followed with a rbi single and a RF Steve Pearce added a sacrifice fly for a 4 run uprising. The Pirates then took the game in the 6th, hi-lighted by CF Nate McLouth’s tape measure shot to right, Mientkiewicz(single) and Pearce(sac fly) added rbis to make it 7-3 Pirates.
The teams exchanged runs in the 7th, as the Rockies scored via a double play & McLouth added to his big night with a rbi ground out. RH RP Denny Bautista continued his strong Pirates season with 2 solid innings to close out the game for the ‘Burgh, with 4 Ks over his stint.
Star of the Game-
Snell- Pitching is vital right now and this was a much needed performance and very welcomed.
Pirates Notes-
1b Adam Laroche and 2b Freddy Sanchez both sat out with back injuries suffered in Sunday’s game. Chris Gomez played 2b and Mientkiewicz was at 1st…7 game team streak without an error…. McLouth’s homer was the 23rd to land in Allegheny River, going an estimated 450 feet…Doumit and Mientkiewicz both had 3 hits
Next Game-
Tuesday, 7:05, PNC Park
Pirates RH Yoslan Herrera(1-1,9.75) vs Rockies LH Glendon Rusch(4-3,5.74)
