Pirates-Brewers: Pittsburgh Bullpen Loses It Again

PITTSBURGH, May 4 —The Brewers (14-12) are in town for a two game series and the Pirates (12-13) sacrificed the upper hand as their bullpen gave up six runs during the eight and ninth innings, after a solid performance by Paul Maholm, with Matt Caps (above) losing it ugly.   

Paul Maholm on the mound gave up just one run on six hits, striking out seven along the way, but did not get the decision as the bullpen fell apart in the late innings. Maholm pitched himself out of trouble in the first and again in the fourth.

In the first the Brewers picked up right where they left of with the first two batters Corey Hart and J.J. Hardy reaching on singles. 

Then after Rickie Weeks flied out, Prince Fielder reached on what might have been a double play if Maholm had gotten to first in time to get Prince, but Hart was able to score, Brewers 1-0.

In the second Yovani Gollardo, a different pitcher then the one who struck out 11 in his last outing against the Pirates, showed some control issues.  Adam LaRoche walked to start, then Brandon Moss hit a nice drive off the wall over Cameron's glove and got a triple, scoring LaRoche.

After Andy LaRoche grounded out, Ramon Vazquez walked for the eleventh time in 52 at trips to the plate.  Jason Jaramillo hit a broken-bat blooper out to the shortstop, two outs.  Paul Maholm came up and walked on four straight pitches, loading the bases for Nyjer Morgan.

Gollardo appeared to be having control problems and the bullpen was was warming up. All the drama was for nothing has Morgan hit a grounder, Maholm out at second.  The Pirates left the bases loaded, the score 1-1.

Andy LaRoche tried to take advantage of the between inning doldrums and hit the first pitch, a low-inside sinker, off the left-field pole for a noisy solo shot.  The next three Pirates went in order, Pittsburgh 2-1.

With one out in the fifth, Freddy Sanchez hit a push double that rolled all they way into the corner.  Sanchez leads the National League with 11 two-baggers on the season. Next Nate McLouth connected with an outside curve for a soft single to center, allowing Sanchez to score. Adam LaRoche and Moss were then retired to end the inning, Pirates 3-1.

In the seventh Maholm was still throwing hard, and even helped himself on a great defensive play, making a an off-balance spinning throw of an infield dribbler toward third to get the runner at first.

In the bottom of the inning Sanchez got things going with a one out double to left, his second of the game.  McLouth grounded out back to the pitcher, moving Sanchez to third.  The rally fell short as Adam LaRoche flied out to deep center to end the inning, the first baseman hittless on the night.

With one out and a walk in the eighth inning, knowing their aces arm, the Pirates lifted Maholm in favor of Tyler Yates who throws a 96 mph fastball.  Yates had given up runs in his last three outings.  And on what looked like at ball four Weeks is called out swinging.

It might be asked whether Maholm was pulled too early in favor of bullpen which has been shelled over the past week.

The Pirates then called on the lefty John Grabow to face left-handed batter Fielder who lined the second pitch to center for a single, runners at first and second.  Mike Cameron then walked the winning run aboard loading the bases for Ryan Braun pinch hitting for Duffy with two outs.  

Braun brought in despite the sore back.  Braun singled hitting a blooper to right, scoring Hardy and Fielder and moving to second on the throw.  Casey McGehee struck out to end the inning, but not before the Brewers had tied it up.

In the bottom of the eighth Ramon Vazquez, hitting just .186 on the year hit a two-out single to right.  Jaramillo then doubled to right, off the glove of Hart sprinting to the ball and the speedy Vazquez came around and scored, Pirates 4-3. Delwyn Young pinch-hitting for Grabow grounded out to end the inning.

Jaramillo has been able to do what Diaz was not, hitting in run scoring opportunities.

Matt Capps came on to get the save in the ninth, giving up a single to Jason Kenall. Craig Counsell came in to hit for Mark DiFelice, singling to right, runners at first and second, with the top of the order coming up.

Hart, showing bunt the whole way, walked to load the bases with no outs.  Hardy then sacrifice scoring Kendall, runners at first and second.  Weeks hit a three-run homer to left center and the self-destruction of the bullpen was complete, Brewers 7-4. Capps got the last two batters to end the inning.

Trevor Hoffman came on in relief in the ninth for an easy save opportunity.

Capps (0-2) takes the loss, giving up four runs on three hits and a walk.  Capps has given up 10 runs on eight hits in his last three appearances .

Despite all the things the Pirates are doing right, their bullpen is dramatically under performing the rest of the team and until they get back to their early season form Pittsburgh will continue to struggle.  The Pirates have lost six of their last seven, with their only win coming against Cincinnati, where the bullpen almost lost another one giving up three runs in the last two innings of that one.

Ian Snell (1-3, 3.72 ERA) goes up against Jeff Suppan (1-2, 5.88 ERA) tomorrow.