The Pittsburgh Pirates gave Turner Field in Atlanta a lovely memory after dropping their last game there ever, and the series, to the Braves 5 -2.
Takeaways
- Marte in centerfield – While Cutch is riding pine, Starling Marte is manning centerfield and tonight, looked pretty fly out there. His afterburners play to catch Matt Kemp’s attempt at a grand slam in the 3rd was as good a play as we’ve seen in that position all season.
- Coming Home – After a lackluster road trip against two teams the Pirates should abso-BUCN-lutely have dominated, they catch the late plane home to take on the Reds. Maybe some of that “home cooking” will inject some life into these guys.
Throwaways
- Blind Bats – The Pirates were looking more alive tonight, but those bats were just not finding the places where the Braves weren’t.
- Botched Plays – The Pirates were trying to be aggressive in the top of the 7th with a hit and run play, but Fryer failed to make contact with the ball which resulted in Jordy Mercer getting tagged out at second. I applaud them for the effort – but this stuff has to get results. John Jaso pulled a head-scratcher at-bat when, after grounding into an obvious double-play and breaking his bat in the top of the 7th – he didn’t even try to run to first. In the bottom of that same inning, Kang dropped an easy pick-off attempt, resulting in the Braves getting a second run across the plate and taking the lead. And in the next inning, Kang misplayed a hit by Erick Aybar, allowing him to reach.
- Bonus – Woo-birds – if anyone thought PNC Park was bad for the much (and deservedly-so) maligned woo-birds, they just weren’t paying attention to this game in Atlanta tonight.
W – Hunter Cervenka (1-0)
L – Felipe Rivero (0-4)
S – Jim Johnson (7)
Line of the Night
Ryan Vogelsong made his triumphant return (again) to baseball tonight and it was the kind of return movies are made of. Sure, he left the game tied at 1 after the 6th, but if he keeps pitching like this, he won’t find himself back in the bullpen this season. In six innings, and a meager 83 pitches, Voggy gave up just 3 hits, allowed 1 run and 1 walk and struck out 6. He was efficient and he was aces when he backed himself into a few bases-loaded situations. Oh, and he also moved catcher Eric Fryer to second on a sac bunt, which has to be a frightening play for a guy who almost lost an eye taking a baseball to the face, which contributed to the one run the Bucs got in the 3rd. It’s a shame the team couldn’t give him a win.
Next Up
The Pirates head home tomorrow for a 3-game series against the Reds. Jameson Taillon (2-2) toes the rubber for the Bucs and the 6-0 Anthony DeSclafani will man the bump for the Reds. Game time is 7:05.
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