Jamo Back on Track; Luplow Bangs First Big-League Bomb in 5-0 Win Over Redlegs

Might be a different animal today...Billy Hamilton led off with a double and went to third on a wild pitch, but bucking tradition, Jamo left him stranded. Each side left a runner in the second; the Bucco was Jordan Luplow, who got his first MLB hit on an infield knock. The Pirates left two more on in the fifth. One was J-Hay, who was hit in the hand/wrist area. He stayed on the base, but was removed from the game when it was time to field. It was the Reds turn in the sixth to leave runners aboard at second and third (single, intentional walk, couple of steals) when JT got Adam Duvall swinging to turn the page. AJ Schugel took over in the seventh and cleaned up an infield knock and one-out dink via an around-the-horn DP. Michael Lorenzen took the ball for Cincy and gave up a run that would drive a little-coach to drink. Jaso was aboard on a walk with two outs and Starling dropped a single to right, sending him to third. The throw from right hit the mound and kicked away; the catcher and various other Redlegs chased the bouncing ball, leaving home uncovered and JJ trotted in to make it 1-0.

J-Lup loses his first MLB ball (photo Pittsburgh Pirates)

In came Juan Ni...ooops, make that Daniel Hudson, for the eighth. He walked Billy Hamilton (who has been on base three times and robbed J-Hay of extra bases earlier in the game) but escaped. Wandy Peralta took the ball and praise the Lord and pass the ammunition - after bleeder and liner knocks by Freezer and Eli, young Mr. Luplow launched his first big league long ball over The Notch. The Bucs plated another on three straight singles to make it 5-0. Felipe Rivero came in (either no one else warmed up or Clint doesn't like him to sit more than two straight days; take your pick) for the ninth and he corralled the cows. Nice to see a couple of kids sprinkled in now; should be a couple more young pitchers added to the mix after Indy's playoff run has ended.

It was the ol' Jamo at last tonight (photo Dave Arrigo/Pirates)

Notes:

• Starling had three hits; Freeser and J-Lup had two each.
• The line on Jamo: six IP, three hits, one walk, four K on 96 pitches. Nice to have ya back, JT.
• The word on J-Hay: He suffered an undetermined left hand injury and will see an ortho specialist tomorrow to come up with a diagnosis.
• Tough enough to watch a game between also-rans in September when the weather has taken a football turn, but adding Angel Hernandez behind the plate makes it especially exasperating.
• Ivan Nova isn't thrilled to be missing a turn for Steven Brault. He and the staff both know his problem is too many pitches left upstairs, but Nova wants to work through it, claiming fatigue isn't an issue.
• On the injury front, Clint is expecting Fran Cervelli (quad), Gregory Polanco (hamstring) and Adam Frazier (hamstring) to come off the DL this week. Wade LeBlanc and Joaquin Benoit were just cleared for action, leaving just George Kontos (and now J-Hay) still TBD.
• 23,529 turned up on a damp, chilly night to watch the Jordan Luplow show.