Pirates-Reds: Buc Bats Come Alive; Reds Play Sloppy

PITTSBURGH, May 2 —After being shut out in two consecutive games, the Pirates ended that run with a big first inning to get things started, and to give Ross Ohlendorf the kind of run support he needs to win.  McLouth was 3-for-five with three runs and an RBI in the game, leading the Pirates offense.  The Pirates (12-11) defeated the Reds (12-11) 8-6.

In the first inning, leadoff hitter Nyjer Morgan got things going quickly with a single to right.  A distracted Micah Owings, worrying about Morgan stealing second, allowed a quick single to right by Freddy Sanzhez, Morgan to second.  Nate McLouth, in just his second game back, hit a hard two-hopper single off the glove of Phillips into right, scoring Morgan and sending Sanchez to third.  McLouth then stole second, beating an excellent throw to second, taking away the double play ball.  Adam LaRoche walked to load the bases before Brandon Moss fouled out to third. 

Owings, in real trouble in the first, next hit Andy LaRoche right on the back of the hand, scoring Sanchez.  Ramon Vazquez took a long at-bat before singling into right field, scoring LaRoche and McLouth, Andy LaRoche to third.  Robinzon Diaz then hit into a double play to end the inning, Pirates 4-0.

In the third, McLouth singled center.  Adam LaRoche then singled, moving McLouth to third; however, LaRoche was thrown out at first, as he was thinking of trying to grab second.  Brandon Moss then came up and hit the first pitch for a single to right, scoring Mclouth, Pirates 5-0.  Andy LaRoche then flied out before Vazquez drew a walk before Diaz flied out to end the inning.

In the fourth inning, Hernandez singled to right.  Rosales singled to center, moving Hernandez to third.  Then Alex Gonzalez hit a home run, bouncing it off of the left-field foul pole, scoring three runs.  Owings, Taveras, and Dickerson then each flied out to end the inning, the second a diving catch made by Mclouth; Pirates 5-3.

In the fifth Joey Votto, who had walked twice, doubled to center to get things started, hitting deep into the gap.  An out later, Votta was advanced on a grounder by Jay Bruce back to the pitcher who made the out himself at first.

In the bottom of the seventh, Sanchez started things off with a single to center off of Danny Herarra, who came on in relief of Owings to get the last out of the sixth.  McLouth then reached on a bunt single, his third hit of the night, Sanchez to second.  Adam LaRoche then singled to right, the runners advance to load the bases for Brandon Moss with none out.

Moss reached on a fielder’s choice to first, Sanchez was thrown out at home, but not in time for the double play.  On and earlier pitch, Moss had come within a whisker of being hit by a pitch.  With Andy LaRoche coming to bat, the Reds called on right-handed David Weathers in relief to try to salvage the inning.

Andy LaRoch hit what could have been a double play, but a reluctant throw to first and Andy LaRoche was safe on the throw.  McLouth scores easily, and with the ball laying on the ground, Adam LaRoche scored from third.  It is scored a fielder’s choice for Andy Laroche, and an error allowing Moss to move to second on Phillips’ fielding error.  After a sacrifice fly by Vazquez, Diaz ended the inning, the third time in the game he has done it with runners in scoring position; Pirates 7-3. 

In the top of the eighth the Reds got started with Phillips reaching on an error, dropped pop fly by Sanchez.  Bruce followed with a single, moving Phillips to third.  Rosales reached on a fielder’s choice to second, Phillips scored.  Then after another a Gonzalez single, pinch-hitting Jerry Harriston grounded out, fielder’s choice to third to end the inning, Pirates 7-4.  

In the bottom of the eighth, pinch-hitting Eric Hinske singled.  Morgan reached on a fielder’s choice, Hinske out at second.  Then on a wild pitch, Nyjer Morgan showed just how fast he is, as he took two bases moving all the way from first to third, beating out the throw from the Red’s catcher Hernanez. “I just saw them slacking a little bit...I just figured that I had an opportunity to go so I just figured I’d take it.”

Hernandez was rather lazily jogging after the ball, while Morgan was rounding second headed for third.  Sanchez then sacrificed Morgan home, Pirates 8-4.  McLouth flied out to end the inning.

In the top of the ninth, the Reds were looking to rally a bit, with the Pirates closer Matt Capps on the mound.  Taveras singled to get things going and Laynce Nix singled, moving Taveras to third with none out.  Votto then singled to right, scoring Taveras and moving Nix to third.  Phillips then singled, scoring Nix, runners at first and second.  Then flied out to left, with Morgan sitting out in the 410 gap, robbing the Reds of what could have been a double or a triple.  Capps then struck out Hernandez but was still in the game giving up two runs on five singles.

Rosales then reached on an infield single, off the glove of Vazquez.  With the bases loaded for Gonzalez, who homered in the fourth, came to the plate.  Three pitches and three strikes later, the Pirates had tied the series at one game apiece.

The Pirates had eight runs on thirteen hits and an error.  The Reds six runs on 14 hits and an error.

Ohlendorf (3-2) gets the win and Owings (1-3) earns the loss.  Jeff Karstens (1-0, 5.40 ERA) gets the start in the rubber match for the Pirates tomorrow at 1:35 EST.  Johnny Cueto (1-1, 2.19 ERA) is on the mound for the Reds.