Saturday, May 24, 2008

Jason Bay Impresses Even Superman

Jason Bay, whether he likes it or not, got pumpled by his teamates after pulling through with clutch hits in the final 2 games of the 3 game series. It's good to see the Bucco's bounce back against the tough Cubs, who lead the division and have OWNED the Pirates so far this season. Lets get started, eh?
Game one, was a game that went sour, then good, then sour...so on an such. The Pirates were down 1-0 thru 3.5 until Jason Bay connected on a 2 run hommer to deep left center. The Bucco's added in the bottom of the 6th with a Jason Michaels single that scored Bay. Pirates 3-1. Tyler Yates was charged with the early blown save after he gave up scatted hits and walks in the top of the 8th giving the Cubs a 4-3 edge thru 7.5. In the top of the 9th, Alfonso Soriano led off the inning with a double to right center. Crap huh? Well, when Ryan Theriot attempted to lay down a sac bunt to put Soriano in a situation to score on a sac fly, Matt Capps threw in hard on Theriot and back up Rual Chavez threw down to second to pick off Soriano. The Cubs couldn't muster anything after that. The Pirates came up in the 9th and Kerry Wood started things off in his reputational way, by hitting his 765th batter of the year and Doug Mientkiewicz moved to second after avier Nady single. Freddy Sanchez layed down the bunt of his life to move Mientkiewicz over to third. Luis Rivas, with one out, hit a long fly ball to right allowing Mientkiewicz to tag up and score on the sac fly. 4-4, tie ball game. After John Russell emptied his bench, both clubs were letting their closers to throw up to 3 innings worth of pitches. In the 14th, Sanchez scored and moved to second on an error from Theriot and a wild pitch. Luis Rivas almost goofed up for the ages after he hit a ball to short stop Ryan Theriot, yet Sanchez was able to move over 3rd anyways. The Cubs thought it would be a good idea to walk Nate McClouth. Yeeeeah, not so. Jason Bay played hero in the bottom of the 14th with a 2 hopper off the center field wall. Game. Bucco's 5-4. They're now a dismal 2-9 against the Cubs. I'm sure we'll take wins in any shape or form.
Game 2, was filled with just as much drama in 3 innings less. Nate McClouth got the Buc's all tied up again in the 9th with a shot to left. What should have been a can 'o corn for Alfonso Soriano, turned into a battle with the sound. Soriano, lost the ball, and dropped it off the heel of his glove. McClouth was credited with a double, allowing Brian Bixler to score. In the 11th the Pirates' Chris Gomez beat out an infield single against Jon Leiber. Brian Bixler bunted him down to second. Luis Rivas struck out and Nate McClouth was intentionally walked to set up Jason Bay's 2nd day heroics. Bay lined a base hit down the left field line scoring Bixler and the Bucco's taking the weekend series. Bay had this to say about his efforts, "two in a career doesn’t make me Mr. Walkoff, but back to back is pretty neat.” Xavier Nady had him self a solo shot in the game and Luis Rivas had two solo home runs for the Pirates. Up next for the Buc's is a 3 games series against the Reds in Cincinnatti. The Red's as of this blog, are tied 9-9 in the top of the 15th in San Diego. Hope jet lag is on their side.




Other Notes:
-Phil Dumatrait had a solid outing in the 14 inning game. No win, but a quality start.
-Jason Bay is the last person to drive in the winning run in extra innings on back to back days since Albert Belle did it with home runs in 1995.
-When the Pirates visit Cincinnatti, Ken Griffey Jr. will be sitting on 598HR.
-Paul Maholm went 8 innings in the Sunday game, but gave up 5 ER and struck out 7.

No comments: