Bucco's Start Out Nice, Ends in an "L"

The Pirates had something going last night until the bottom of the 5th inning came. The Buc's were taking advantage of more sloppy play and sloppy pitching from Johnny Cueto. In the 2nd, the Pirates go clutch hitting from arguably, two of the worst hitters on the team. Struggling Jose Bautista and slumping Ronny Paulino teamed up for a double and a single to start off the inning. Paulino however, was throw out at 2nd for trying to stretch what should have never even been thought of for a guy with his speed. In the 3rd, the Bucco's added on a second run on a 2 out base hit by Xavier Nady, driving in Jason Bay. In the top of the 5th Jason Bay reached on a throwing error and a long single by Xavier Nady moved Bay to third. Adam LaRoche, who has slowly, but surely started warming up, hit a sac fly to deep center bringing home Bay, 3-0 Bucco's. The fun would stop there as Ian Snell would load the bases on 3 consecutive walks. Brandon Phillips brought in a run on a sac fly and Adam Dunn would finish off the jobbing with a 3 run homer to right. That home run made it 4-3 Reds, and it also made Adam Dunn the all time leader in home runs by a lefty for the Reds franchise. It marked 8 home runs in Dunn's last 12 games, nothing out of the ordinary. I'll be surprised if he doesn't back this up with a 12 game hitting slump with 49 strike outs. Nothing happened score wise until the bottom of the 6th when hits and walks were being given out like presents on Christmas day. Ian Snell was pulled after loading the bases, again, on 2 hits and a walk. Damaso Marte came in relief and he didn't do much better. 3 hits and 4 runs later, it was a 8-3. The Reds added one another run to make it 9-3 in the 7th when Jay Bruce doubled to deep center bringing in Paul Bako. Bruce went 3 for 3 and the city of Cincinnati thinks they just discovered the next Jeff Francouer, aka GOD. The Pirates tried to get something going in the 9th when LaRoche hit a 2 run homer and Paulino added a solo shot him self, but the damage was done. Bucco's were toast, 9-6 losers.

Other Notes:

-Ian Snell continues to stink the joint up. 5IP, 7 runs. (Picture) It's not your hand! It's your arm, shoulder, wrist, finger, etc....

-Jack Wilson came back for his first game since going on the disabled list since the 3rd game of the season. He went 3-5, but he's not as good as this Jay Bruce kid.

-Even though the last week wasn't all that great, the Buc's are still 24-27. 6.5 back of the first place Cubs, the Red's are only 7.0 back.

-Jay Bruce may become the next Mickey Mantle and Ted Williams rolled up in one.