Game 11: Pirates at Cardinals

The Pirates were back in action Monday night, following a weekend of postponed ball due to the storm that drenched the Northeast. The Pirates and Cardinals meet in St. Louis, already with a history, the Cardinals swept the 3-game series in Pittsburgh last week. Ian Snell was on the mound for the Pirates, Anthony Reyes for the Cardinals.

Pittsburgh kicked off the scoring in the 1st. Jack Wilson walked, and then a Freddy Sanchez moved him to second. Adam LaRoche singled to right, to load the bases for Jason Bay. Reyes walked Bay, bringing in Wilson to score. The next batter, Xavier Nady singled sharply up the middle scoring Sanchez and LaRoche, putting the Pirates up 3-0.

Reyes settled down, and got out of the first without further damage. He went 4 more innings, through the 5th, without allowing another run.

Ian Snell had another strong outing, allowing only 1 hit in 6 shutout innings, before struggling in the 7th.

Scott Rolen singled to lead off the 7th. Following a Jim Edmonds strikeout, Scott Spiezio walked to move Rolen to second. Adam Kennedy sent a line drive to right, scoring Rolen. Snell walked Yadier Molina to load the bases, and move the tying run into scoring position. With all eyes on the Pirates dugout, Mangaer Jim Tracy made no moves. Snell rewarded his confidence, getting Skip Schumaker to pop out, and then David Eckstein to ground out, ending the threat.

The Cardinals chipped away more at the lead in 8th against Pittsburgh relief pitchers. Chris Duncan singled off Matt Capps, and was moved to second on a Albert Pujols ground out. The Pirates brought in Damaso Martes to face Jim Edmonds, who singled to left scoring Duncan. Cardinals 2, Pirates 3.

In the bottom of the 9th, St. Louis looked to complete the comeback. Salomon Torres took the mound, having struggled recently, with a loss and blown save in his last two appearances. Adam Kennedy grounded to first, but LaRoche bobbled the ball allowing the tying on-base. Molina's sacrifice bunt moved Kennedy into scoring position. With one out in the 9th, Aaron Mile's ground ball down the third base took a fortuitous bounce off the bag and over Bautista, moving Kennedy to third. Torres first pitch to Eckstein caught his elbow, loading the bases.

Cardinals left fielder Chris Duncan came to the plate, knowing an outfield single would score two and win the game. He sent the second pitch he saw into left field, but Jason Bay tracked it down, making the out and keeping the runners in place. Pujols fouled off a ball to third baseman Jose Bautista, preserving the Pirates victory.

Game 8: Pirates vs. Cardnials

It was a real heart breaker in Pittsburgh Tuesday night against the St. Louis Cardinals, losing an extra-innings game they had every opportunity to win.

The Pirates looked prepped to strike early with bases loaded in the bottom of the 1st, but with one out Xavier Nady popped out to first base and Adam LaRoche, now hitting 6th in the lineup, flied out to center to end the inning.

In the 4th Pirates catcher Jose Bautista hit a solo shot off Cardinals starter Randy Keilser. Freddy Sanchez doubled in the 6th, and was brought home on a Jason Bay single to left field, increasing the Pirates lead to 2.

Pittsburgh starter Gorzellany threw a scoreless 7 innings, allowing only 4 hits.

In the 9th, Pirates closer Salomon Torres gave up an outfield single to lead off man David Eckstein, and
walked Chris Duncan. The next batter, Albert Pujols, flied out to Jason Bay in left. Eckstein tagged up and advanced to third, and taking advantage of Jason Bay throwing to third, Duncan advanced to second. With the tying run now in scroing position, cleanup hitter Scott Spiezzio singled to right field, scoring both runners and trying the game.

The Pirates again had a chance to win the game, in the bottom of the 10th with runners on first and second with no outs. But the Cardinals infield retired the lead runner on Jack Wilson's bunt, and relief pitcher Brad Thompson struck out Freddy Sanchez and Jason Bay to end the threat.

Pittsburgh relief pitcher John Wasdin gave up a single to Gary Bennet, then a double to Aaron Miles in the top of the 12th. An intentional walk loaded the bases, and on Skip Schumaker's fly to left field Bennet attempted to tag-up and score from third. The Jason Bay throw was on time, but Bucs catcher Ronny Paulino dropped the ball on the tag, and Bennet was ruled safe, giving the Cardinals a 3-2 lead.

Leading off the bottom of the 12th, Chris Duffy walked, putting the Pirates tying run on-base. However Jack Wilson hit an infield pop out, and Freddy Sanchez hit into a game ended double play.

The Pirates look to avoid the sweep, Wednesday at home, before Barry Bonds and San Fransisco Giants come into town for a weekend series.

Game 7: Pirates vs. Cardinals

It was a pitchers duel in the season opener in PNC between the Pittsburgh Pirates and the St. Louis Cardinals.

In 7 innings, Pittsburgh starter Ian Snell allowed only one run, on a 4th inning single by Scott Rolen, scoring Albert Pujols from 2nd.

St. Louis starter Braden Looper went 7 shut-out innings, allowing only 2 hits.

In the top of 8th, Preston Wilson, pinch-hitting for Jim Edmonds, doubled, scoring Eckstein and Pujols, increasing the Cardinals lead to 3-0.

St. Louis relief pitchers continued the domination of the Bucs line-up, completing the 3-hit shutout.

Through the entire game the Pirates were unable to get move a base-runner past 2nd base.

Adam LaRoche continued to struggle at the plate, going 0 for 3 with a walk.

The two teams will meet again at PNC Park tomorrow night for the 2nd game of the 3-game series.

Game 6: Pirates at Reds

With the temperatures dropping on the bitter cold field the Pirates met the Cincinnati Reds, attempting to avoid the 3-game road series sweep. Zach Duke took the mound for the Pirates after having his April 5th start pushed back due to a split fingernail. Former Pirate, Victor Santos started for the Reds.

Last years NL Batting Champion Freddy Sanchez made his belated season debut for the Pirates, having missed the first 5 games of the season nursing a sore knee.

The Pirates scored first, in the 4th inning, thanks to a RBI double by Brad Eldred, scoring Xavier Nady from first. They continued in the 5th with a 2-run Jack Wilson Home Run. In the 6th, they linked together doubles from Jose Bautista and Freddy Sanchez, chasing Santos from the mound, and increasing the lead to 4-0.

The Reds battled back in the bottom of 7th, with a Ken Griffey Jr. single scoring runners from second and third. The 2 RBIs moved Griffey up to 21st all-time in Runs Batted In with 1,610. Juan Castro later doubled, scoring Griffey, and pulling within one, 4-3.

The 8th saw Eldred increase the Bucs lead to 5-3 with a solo homer. Then in the 9th, Jason Bay’s deep shot put the score to 6-3.

Salomon Torres sent the heart of the Reds line-up down in order, preserving the Pirates win, and picking up his 4th save of the season.

Sanchez went 2 for 4, with a walk and a run, in his season debut.

The Pirates (4-2) will meet the St. Louis Cardinals (2-4) on Monday for their home opener in the newly upgraded PNC Park.

Game 2: Pirates at Astros

Relying on late inning heroics, the Pirates won their second straight game in comeback fashion against the Houston Astros.

Pittsburgh jumped to an early lead with a monstrous home run from Xavier Nady in the second inning. But the Astros Jason Lane would tie it with a solo shot of his own in the 5th.

Pirates starter Ian Snell allowed another run in the 6th on Carlos Lee's outfield single scoring Orlando Palmeiro from second base. Snell went 6 innings, striking out 11, in his first start of the season.

In the 8th, Jack Wilson bunted his way to an infield single, and was pushed to second on a Jason Bay walk. Ronny Paulino drove Wilson home from second with a line drive to left field, and then Xavier Nady put the Bucs ahead with an outfield fly single scoring Jason Bay.

Closer Salomon Torres shut Houston down in the 9th, and the Pirates picked up their second win, 3-2. Torres got the save (2), Jonah Bayliss the win.

Pirates first-baseman Adam LaRoche has yet to pick up his first hit with the Pirates, going 0 for 3 with a strike out and a walk.

Pittsburgh will wrap up the series with the home opener in Pittsburgh on Wednesday night.

Game 1: Opening Night - Pirates at Astros

Opening day has finally arrived. Finally games that matter, and in real stadiums. The Pirates open their 162 game schedule in Houston taking on the Roy Oswalt and the Astros.

Pirates starting pitcher Zach Duke went 7 innings, only giving up 2 runs on a Luke Scott Home Run in the bottom of 5th.

The Bucs battled back late with a pinch-hit solo homer in the 8th by McLouth. In the 9th, down 2-1, Xavier Nady sent the first pitch he saw into the left field bleachers, evening it up at 2-2.

The 10th saw Jason Bay put the Bucs ahead with a 2-run Home Run, and Torres retired the Astros 1-2-3 for an extra-innings Pirates victory in the season opener.

Matt Capps picked up the win, Salomon Torres the save.

Chris Duffy looked impressive in center field, gunning Scott trying to stretch a outfield hit into a double in the 2nd, and then throwing out Burke trying to score from second in the 5th.

Hometown kid, Don Kelly, made his MLB debut with a pinch-hit in the 9th inning.

Last years NL Batting Champ Freddy Sanchez started off the season on the DL due to a sprained knee.

$3.2 off-season acquisition Adam LoRoche went 0 for 5 with 4 strike outs.

As expected, I broke like the Kosheish Dam (History Channel) and purchased the MLB.tv package. I only picked up the monthly deal, I figure I'll feel it out and see how I like it. It's the standard package (400k) not the premium package (700k), but it seems to be streaming fine and looking alright. I'm guessing with MLB's exclusive television deal with Direct TV subscription is probably going through the roof.

So you might ask me why I would do something like this. Why, when I'm already near broke, would I invest in this? It's certainly not because the current Bucs line up inspires a great deal of hope of making a playoff spot. They haven't had a winning season since I was 6. Their meager 40 million payroll is less than a fourth of the Yankee's. Vegas puts their odds of winning the World Series at 100 to 1. I say they are being generous.

So why? Because just like a million other schmucks out there, the Sports Industry has had me hook-line-and-sinker ever since I was 4 years old. Like the guy in New York who year after year dumps a couple grand on Jets season tickets, the kid who gets a couple packs of cards with his weekly allowance, or the person who answer's the phone "I'm taping the padres game, don't tell me the score". We're all suckers. Life long addicts. But then again, there's nothing I'd rather do than sit on my couch and take in 9 innings on a cool spring afternoon.

Even when my teams bullpen squanders a 2 run lead in the 7th.