Buc Streak Ends At Five With 3-2 Loss To Giants

The Giants rolled a one-out single through the hole into right off Archie; Colin Moran at second is not exactly tripping the light fantastic. That was followed by a walk, but no further damage was done. Dereck Rodriguez cruised through an eight-pitch opener. SF started off the second with a walk; Chris isn't real sharp but put away the remaining bottom of the order. It took D-Rod nine pitches to coax three grounders in the Pirates half. Buster Posey smacked a two-out double in the third and died at second. The Bucco back end went down quietly with a pair of whiffs. The Giants stranded a two-out single; so far most of their action has been with two gone. CoTuck doubled to The Notch to start the Bucs and moved to third on a bouncer. Colin couldn't cash him in, but J-Bell did in spades, taking a middle-middle changeup over the Clemente Wall (and seats, for that matter) to put the Bucs up 2-0. The lead was short-lived. A knock by Rodrigiez and bunt single in the fifth set up Posey, who dropped a mistake fastball over the wall in center to end a 237 at-bat streak w/o a long ball. The Bucs hit three balls sharply in response, but only Reynolds' found grass, and he was left at second.

Archie wasn't sharp today, but there's only one pitch he'd like back... (image Pgh Pirates)

Ric Rod got the sixth and gave up a knock and a walk, but a caught stealing made it a fairly drama free frame. Colin drew a two-out walk to end D-Rod's day, and Reyes Moranta came in; he walked J-Bell and fanned Cervy. Keone Kela tossed a calm seventh and Mortana was nicked for a bloop Reynolds knock, but escaped harm thanks to an at 'em ball drilled to short by J-Mart. Frankie Liriano gave up a single in an otherwise quiet eighth while Tony Watson worked a 1-2-3 frame. Nick Kingham was in hot water after a double and walk, but put up another zero.The Pirates had a last hurrah against Will Smith. Cervy walked with an out, and the Bucs escaped JHK's DP ball when Brandon Crawford bobbled the relay. With Kang at first, Reynolds doubled to the fence in left and the ball took an awkward little bounce off the wall; Jung Ho was waved home, but was thrown out by a good two steps to bring the game to a dramatic if unwanted conclusion.

Cora did the right thing; the Giants relay was bang-bang and on the money, while JHK isn't gonna represent S. Korea in the Summer Olympics, but Clint is committed to a pedal to the metal mindset while scratching for runs. He's also been hampered by a short bench; they should prob make a move with Stephen Brault, who hasn't been used since Babe Ruth pitched, for another bench guy.  But get used to it; this is how the Bucs are gonna play, at least til the team gets back its MIA's. Still, they took the series, and if they can do the same against Arizona, it will be an excellent homestand.

Keone worked a clean frame today (photo Pittsburgh Pirates)

Notes:

• The Pirates had just five hits; Bryan Reynolds rapped out three of them, with J-Bell and Cotuck collecting the others.
• Not only did Posey end a long homerless streak, but it was the first HR he's ever hit against Pittsburgh.
• The attendance was 12,396 on a chilly, gray Easter.
• GM Neal Huntington on Sunday radio said that Kevin Newman will take some rehab time and get some outfield work while on the farm, as proposed a little earlier in the season. He wouldn't commit to the length of Cole Tucker/Bryan Reynold's big league stay, saying they both could be here for good or both could be sent back sooner rather than later, pretty logical considering they've been Buccos for all of one game.