Red Hot Bucs....Lets Skipp the All-Star Break
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by user Pittsburgh Pro Sports Report
From Pittsburgh Pro Sports Report:
The Pirates won their fourth straight series and went 7-3 at home in their last 10 games, to end the first half of the season. On an even better note, Jason Bay seems to have come out of his month long slump when he went 2-4 with 4 RBI's (56) with a home run (13).(Side note: This was the fifth homer of his career off of Zambrano) He homered for the first time since June 22, and had multiple hits for the first time since June 21. He had gone just 18-for-120 for a .150 average in June and July. Which is why fans probably didn't vote him into the All-Star game this year. (Jason, PittPSR Loves You!) And they actually booed him at one point. Props to Adam LaRoche for sticking up for Bay through his tough times.
"<a href=" http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/07186/799429-63.stm">]I can understand booing me. I was the new guy here, there were some expectations, and I sucked. But, I mean ... you're talking about Jason Bay, one of the most consistent hitters in the big leagues. That's pretty weak to boo him. If you're loving that player when he's going well, you've got to stick with him when he's not.</a>"
To continue with tradition here at PittPSR here is a summery of the series against the Cubs.
Game 1: Pirates 8, Cubs 4 The Pirates continued a power surge in this game with home runs by Freddy Sanchez and Xavier Nady. Doubles by Domit, Nady, Sanchez, McLouth and Bautista.
For the second time in three nights, the Pirates bats rebounded in a big way against a starter who had dominated them earlier in the season. On Wednesday, the Bucs touched up Brewers starter Claudio Vargas for five runs after he had given up just one run in two previous starts against them. [<a href=" http://mlb.mlb.com/news/gameday_recap.jsp?ymd=20070706&content_id=2071000&vkey=recap&fext=.jsp&c_id=pit">](Read More)</a>
The numbers against Marquis were even more daunting. The Pirates had lost both of their games against the right-hander, as they mustered only one run on seven hits 17 innings. [<a href=" http://mlb.mlb.com/news/gameday_recap.jsp?ymd=20070706&content_id=2071000&vkey=recap&fext=.jsp&c_id=pit">(]Read More)</a>
A two run single in the 2nd by pitcher Paul Maholm but the Pirates up first. When they Cubs tied it Solo home Runs by Sanchez and Nady but the Pirates up for good. Chacone and Marte would hold off the Cubs in the eighth and ninth innings.
Game 2: Pirates 1, Cubs 7 The Pirates hitting was cooled off in this game when their only run came in the bottom of the 7th when Jack Wilson doubled in Ryan Domit. The Bucs Pitching wasn't that great either when Van Benschoten, and Wasdin combined gave up 12 hits, 7 Runs in 5 innings of work. The most encouraging thing to come out of this game was Grabow going two innings giving up 2 hits, 0 runs and having 3 strike outs.
Game 3: Pirates 6, Cubs 2 In this game the Pirates bats and pitching came back to their senses and Jason Bay might have got out of his slump. Bay's 4 RBI performance, with a home run was his best hitting game since June 21. Turns out Zambrano was the pitcher that Bay needed to face to get out of this slump. Its one of those hidden sport rivalries that isn't talked about much.
Bay has hurt Zambrano throughout his career, hitting at a .364 clip with five home runs and 16 RBIs lifetime against the right-hander. Still, Bay wasn't looking forward to facing Zambrano, and said he has been "OK" against the Cubs ace since he homered twice and had eight RBIs off him in a game in Sept. 19, 2003. [<a href=" http://pittsburgh.pirates.mlb.com/news/gameday_recap.jsp?ymd=20070708&content_id=2075079&vkey=recap&fext=.jsp&c_id=pit">(]Read More)</a>
Zambrano even admitted that he strugles against Bay:
"<a href=" http://pittsburgh.pirates.mlb.com/news/gameday_recap.jsp?ymd=20070708&content_id=2075079&vkey=recap&fext=.jsp&c_id=pit">]I either strike him out or he hits a home run," Zambrano said. "He's a good hitter. You can't make a mistake against good hitters. They make you pay</a>."
(Bay has struck out 13 times against Zambrano)
The other big story out of this game is starter Shane Youman went 6 innings, giving up 6 hits, 2 runs, 2 walks and a strike out to earn his second consecutive win since replacing and injured Zach Duke. Chacon and Capps pitched 3 scoreless innings to hold off the Cubs.
So as a Pirates fan I say we skip the All-Star Break and keep our Pirates at this Red Hot Pace. They are now 40-48, 9 games out of first place and 8.5 games out of the Wild Card. This year is not a loss yet. If the Buccos can have a second half of the season this season as they did last season. The city of Pittsburgh might just be watching baseball in October! (keep those figuers crossed)
