Buc Bats Boom In 12-2 Win Over Cards

It took awhile to get going; the start was pushed back to 8:10 to let the rain come and go. The first blood was drawn off Shelby Miller in the second when Pedro took a 2-2 outer half heater and dropped it 426' away over the left center fence to make it 1-0.

The Bucs threatened again in the third. With two down, Starling Marte tripled and Travis Snider walked, but Miller escaped when Cutch's rope to right was gloved by Alan Craig. In the fourth, it was the Cards turn. back-to-back singles opened the frame off Gerrit Cole, followed by two nice grabs by Marte and Cutch. A walk loaded the bases with two down. Johnny Peralta went to right field, but Snider was there; both guys dodged bullets.

Miller learned his lesson re: Pedro and fastballs, so he fed him a changeup. This one left the yard in right center 448' away, and it was 2-0. Make that 3-0; Travis Ishikawa followed two outs later with a blast of his own over the Clemente Wall. Both were on 1-2 counts; guess ol' Shelby doesn't like wasting pitches.

But it wouldn't be an easy night. Cole was laboring without his good curve; he only has one whiff to this point. He gave up a single to Miller, and Matt Carpenter took out a hanging breaking ball, maybe a slider, to make it 3-2 in the middle of the fifth. No noise by the Bucs, but Cole found a second wind in the sixth, putting the Redbirds away 1-2-3 and punching out Peralta on a nasty hook.

Pedro flashed his wheels in the Pittsburgh half. He hustled down the line on a forceout to avoid a DP, stole second, and came home on Russ Martin's single, barely beating the Yadier Molina tag.The wheels began to turn. LHP Randy Choate took the hill, and The Kid rolled one up the middle to put Bucs on the corners.

Gaby grabbed a bat for Ishikawa, and the Cards countered with RHP Seth Maness. After three pickoff attempts, Walker stole second. He and Martin each moved up a station when Yadier's throw to third (he faked a toss to second and tried to catch Russ napping) hit Martin. The Cards claimed interference without success, making it 5-2. Gaby banged one into center, and it was 6-2. Jordy Mercer got plunked. Cole ended the fun when he fouled off a bunt and then bounced into a 4-6-3 DP, quite ironic after yesterday's bunting fiascos.

Cole worked through the seventh, giving up a  two out, 3-2 walk on a pitch that looked a lot like strike three. He then K'ed Kolten Wong swinging to take the ump out of the equation. That was his night. He went seven, giving up two runs on six hits with two walks and three K after 108 pitches. He didn't have his good stuff, but was doggedly relentless tonight.

Marte and Snider singled to open the seventh, putting Bucs at the corners. Marte was thrown out on a contact play, but stayed alive long enough to get Snider to third and Cutch to second. Pedro was walked intentionally to load the sacks. Martin punched one through the right side for a run before Walker ended the inning with a liner back to the pitcher, who doubled up Martin at first.

Bryan Morris worked a 1-2-3 eighth. Keith Butler took the hill, and a Mercer single and Jose Tabata double produced another run. Marte and Snider knocks put up another point, Cutch's stand-up triple to right center chased them home, and Pedro's bounce out plated McCutchen, making it 12-2. Save a couple, guys.

Justin Wilson took the hill, and walked the first two batters, using up 16 pitches. He TCB, but used 29 tosses and probably took himself out of action for tomorrow.

Good day finally for the Bucco bats, although a fair share of grounders with eyes and bloops were included with their 16 hits. Ten Pirates had knocks, and five had two or more. All in all, can't beat it - a free Friday shirt and an offensive fireworks night. They'll go at it again tomorrow evening when Francisco Liriano takes on Joe Kelly.

• Starling Marte has reached base in all 16 games that he's played against St. Louis.
• Shelby Miller is 0-5 with a 5.92 ERA against the Bucs. He's 16-5 with a 2.34 ERA against everybody else.
• Jeanmar Gomez and Stolmy Pimentel were not available tonight; Pimentel won't be good to go until Sunday.
• For those who think the Bucs don't push their prospects through the system fast enough, JJ Cooper of Baseball America has a list, and the Pirates have three of the younger guys in MiLB. 
• Nathan Kirby no hit Pitt and struck out 18 in 4-0 Virginia win tonight. The Panthers are hosting the #1 ranked Cavaliers, and have games left tomorrow and Sunday.

 God's pre-game light show - image by Derrick Goold