Bucs Break Out the Broom Again With 5-2 Win

Frankie's 10+ whiff-a-thon ended, but he was strong again as the Bucs broomed the Giants 5-2 today.

Tim Hudson collected the first hit with a ground-rule double in the third, with the game stopping after JT bounced off the wall chasing it. Nori Aoki and Joe Panik followed with singles to make it 1-0 G-Men. Aoki prevented any further bleeding by being nailed (after review) stealing third. With two outs, it was prob not such a good idea.

The Bucs came back in the fourth to even the score when JT's two-out single plated Cutch. Jordy Mercer homered to left in the fifth to make it 2-1, the second consecutive day he's lost a baseball at AT&T.

That's how it stayed through seven; Frankie's chances for another frame were pretty well lost after Pedro and Jordy made back-to-back two out errors in the seventh; those five-out innings are murder. Frankie exited after that, having given up a run on four hits and a walk with six punch outs. He used up 102 pitches in another rock solid outing.

JHK comes through (photo: Ezra Shaw/Getty Images)

Jared Hughes tossed an interesting eighth. He surrendered a bleeder followed by a laser hit, but survived quite nicely thanks to Jordy. Angel Pagan lined the ball at Mercer, playing up the middle at DP depth. A well timed leap snared it, and a quick step on second completed the clutch twin killing. A Buster Posey at 'em ball ended the frame without any damage.

The Bucs broke away in the ninth. JT singled with one out. Starling Marte ran for Tabata and stole second, rolling into third when the throw was off the mark. Fran Cervelli's single through the left side brought Marte home, and Jordy doubled up the line to put Buccos at second and third. Jung-Ho Kang grabbed a bat for Hughes his two-bagger to right-center chased the pair home to make it 5-1.

Mark the Shark was warming up, but after the outburst erased the save opp, Clint elected to send Rob Scahill into the fray. He got the first out, but then jammed the bases on a trio of singles, two of them decidedly soft knocks. That brought Melancon to the rubber for the third straight day. The Shark did what he does, coaxing two grounders to first, allowing a run and closing out the game for his 16th save.

The Pirates have to day to savor the sweep; they're off until friday, when they end the road trip with a visit to Atlanta.

• Gregory Polanco now has an eight game hitting streak. JT & Jordy added a pair of hits each to the 11-hit attack.
• The Pirates have swept three of the last four series and won 11-of-13.
• Radhames Liz cleared waivers and was outrighted to Indy.