Happ-iness Is A 4-1 Win Over the Snakes to Take Series

JA Happ and Robbie Ray both put up zeroes to start the game. A-Ram was denied at the fence after Cutch had walked to provide the only early excitement.

The first two Snakes in the second used up 15 pitches, both drawing 3-2 walks off Happ. A 6-4-3 DP helped lighten the load, and another worm burner closed the frame. JHK got a call to avoid a K, then was bopped with the next pitch. Fran followed with a knock to put Bucs on the corners. Michael Morse whiffed on a back foot slider that turned into a wild pitch; Morse was out (runner on first) but Kang scored, Fran went to second and came in on S-Rod's knock. Jay bunted back to the box for a force. No diff; Gregory doubled Happ home. Starling singled to third, but happy feet overcame the Bucs again. El Coffee was waved home on the infield hit and was thrown out by a mile, finally nailed in a run down, first to home to third.

With an out in the third, Ray singled on a roller through the left side. Two routine outs left him stranded. Pittsburgh went down in order. It was three up, three down for the D-Backs in the fourth. Morse singled with one away, and so did S-Rod. They were bunted up a station, but Gregory couldn't cash them in, bouncing out to short.

Yasmany Tomas inside-outed a single to right with an out in the fifth and was left there. The Bucs got a couple of ground outs around Cutch's single; he was picked off and finished off. Jay tossed another 1-2-3 frame against the top of the Snake order. JHK walked, but Fran followed with a 4-6-3 DP and Morse K'ed as the Bucs can't add on for Jay in the sixth.

Jay shut 'em down tonite (photo Dave Arrigo/Pirates)

Clint pulled him after 83 pitches for seventh inning man Joakim Soria, with Ishy going to first for Morse. Joakim fanned a pair in a clean frame. Zach Godley came in for Arizona and was greeted by S-Rod's third hit of the night. Ishy bounced into a 4-6-3 DP two pitches later and El Coffee whiffed. Tony Watson took the ball for the eighth. 12 pitches, three grounders, three outs. Starling opened the Bucco half with a leg double and Cutch singled him to third. A-Ram's liner to short froze them, and a walk to JHK loaded 'em for Fran. He whiffed after four tosses, bringing up Pedro as a pinch hitter. He got an easy RBI, walking on five pitches. S-Rod lined out; Godley was lucky to give up one this inning, but it is 4-0 with three outs left.

Antonio Bastardo took the ball in the non-save situation. A well placed bunt single and walk made it one, and Mark the Shark got the call. Goldschmidt rolled a single to left to make it 4-1. A pair of punch outs calmed the Bucco heartbeat, tho David Peralta represented he tying run. Three pitches later, he sat down, and the Pirates took the series from the Snakes.

Well, JA Happ is making the FO look smart (and the rest of us dumb) in his past couple of outings. Two hits over six innings was what the doctor ordered. The Giants roll into town now for a four game set with Charlie Morton and Jake Peavy kickin' it off.

• Sean Rodriguez had three hits, and his only out was a liner. Cutch and Starling added a pair of knocks each.
• The Pirate home run skein ended at 12 games.
• Nice crowd tonight of 32,088.
• RHP Josh Wall was called up as the bullpen was plumb out of long men tonight, with Arquimedes and Joe each tossing three frames last night. He was 2-3/2.93 at Indy, with prior cups of coffee with the Dodgers and Angels. Fame is fleeting; last night's hero, Pedro Florimon, was DFA'ed to clear a roster spot as Josh and/or Jordy are a few days from rejoining the club. That makes S-Rod the back-up SS/2B for the time being.