Saturday, March 5, 2011

Bucs Manufacture 4-3 Win Over Phils

Hey, the game winner was a two run long ball by Neil Walker in the sixth, but the two runs manufactured before his blow were the key.

The Pirates hit paydirt in the fourth, when Lyle Overbay doubled, moved to third on a groundout and scored on Garrett Jones' sacrifice fly. In the fifth, John Bowker doubled, moved to third and came home on Andrew McCutchen's groundout.

Not to shrug off Walker's blast to right; it came on an 0-2 pitch, and that shows some pretty good pitch recognition (also some pretty crappy pitching by JC Ramirez, who gave up all four runs).

It was a game where the Bucs did some little things well. They stole four bases (Corey Wimberly had two; Jose Tabata and Pedro Ciriaco the others) and turned 3 DPs behind the staff. On the other hand, an 0-11 RISP shows a lot of work ahead, though two of the outs did result in runs.

The Buc pitchers weren't overwhelming, but solid and never let the Phillies put up a big frame.

The Pirates play Toronto tomorrow at McKechnie Field. James McDonald will throw three innings and be followed by Joel Hanrahan, Chris Resop, Aaron Thompson and Daniel McCutchen; Justin Wilson, Jeff Locke and Justin Thomas are also available.

-- The Phils suffered a blow when uber-prospect Domonic Brown, projected to be Philadelphia's starting RF'er, fractured the hamate bone of his right hand taking a swing against the Buccos. The injury will require surgery and is expected to sideline him for the rest of spring training and the early part of the season. And the hamate injury is one that's supposed to hamper a players power for at least a season. Ouch!

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