Pirates Game 85 Thoughts: 7-5 win over St. Louis

[Crimson's Ghost]

Stop the Presses! The Pirates have won their seventh straight game.  The Battlin' Bucs used a come from behind 7-5 win over the Cardinals tonight. By virtue of that win, the Pirates leapfrog St. Louis in the standings and get back into second place.  It has been a tremendous road trip and the Pirates have shown a lot of resolve after a disastrous month of June. The Bucs will look to sweep the Red Birds and continue this strong push into the break. 

-- Jeff Locke was bad tonight.  He gave up 5 runs in 4 innings. He's either good or horrible, rarely in-between. I would say his job would be in question with some of the younger guys starting to make their way to the majors. 

-- Hughes was a little shaky, but put up a scoreless inning.  He needed on, he's having the worst season of his career.

-- Schugel made quick work in the 6th, he's been surprisingly good of late. 

-- Feliz and Watson locked down the 7th and 8th, just like they are supposed to do. 

-- Melancon recorded his 26th save of the season, no big deal there.. 


-- Jordy Mercer had a rough game going 0-5 with two strikeouts. He's been very good as the leadoff batter against lefties, so it was a bit of surprise to see him struggle as he did tonight. 

-- David Freese knocked an early homer to give the Buce a 1-0 lead in the first. He also drew two walks and scored 2 runs.  He seemed annoyed with the home plate umpire, who was actually really bad tonight. 

-- McCutchen was 1-3 with 2 walks and 2 runs scored.  He made a couple of poor defensive plays tonight.   But he wasn't bad at the plate overall.

-- Kang had the 2 run double to take the lead in the 7th.  Big hit in a big spot after the Pirates stranded some guys on third the previous two innings. 

-- Marte was 1-5 with 2 K's.  Like Freese, he had his words with the umpire in the ninth inning.  

-- Harrison was able to tack on an extra run to set the final with a big single. He was 1-4 with an RBI tonight. 

-- Sean Rodriguez was one of the stars of the game.  He made perhaps the best defensive play of the season with a spectacular falling backwards catch in right field. S-Rod also drilled a solo homer, and had a key hit during the Pirates' rally. 

-- Even Eric Kratz had a nice double during the game. Any hit from him is usually gravy. 

-- Joyce, Jaso, Polanco, and Frazier all went 0-1 as pinch hitters.  I liked Hurdle using Polanco in his spot pinch hitting for Kratz, usually catchers don't get pinch hit for but Hurdle saw a chance, just didn't work. 


Big game and big opportunity tomorrow for the Pirates at 1:45.  Chance to 4 game sweep a big divisional rival, and get a chance to see what could be a future ace pitcher start his career. 

[12HankQB]

If we win 2 of the next 4 games, we have to be feeling pretty good. There's a buzz in the air.

[Crimson's Ghost]

They just can't get swept by the Cubs. They have to do everything they can to win at least one of those games.