Pirates defeat Blue Jays but Pirates starter to go on DL

 Although I predicted a loss, the Pirates came out and defeated the Toronto Blue Jays by a score of 6 to 3. I was at the game and noticed quite a few things:

1. Who Knew that Raul Chavez could hit?

 Before he came up to the plate in the second inning, I was very pessimistic. Chavez is not a good hitter offensively and I was expecting the casual ground ball. Chavez swings at a 1-0 pitch and it left in a hurry and I was stunned. Who needs Ronny Paulino?

2. Why is Jack Wilson batting  lead off?

 While I was grabbing a hot dog at a concession stand, I hear the announcer state the Pirates lineup and I was surprised. Manager John Russell makes Jack Wilson his lead off hitter. Wilson is certainly not a lead off hitter. Wilson does not have enough speed, he does not have much power (if any), and he does not walk that often.

 I understand and appreciate that Wilson is starting his 1,000th game for the Pirates, but Nate McLouth is our leadoff guy. He can hit for power, he does not strike out a ton, and he is a major threat when he is on base.

3. Jose Bautista steals the show

 Bautista hits a two run home run to left field and he went 3 for 3 to raise his batting average to .264. With the home run, his eighth of the season, Bautista hit his first home run of the season at PNC Park.

4. Jason Bay is Jason Bay

 Sure I may be stealing the Manny Ramirez phrase, but Jason Bay plays a typical game. He hit a towering home run that tied him with McLouth for 15 homerun for the Pirates (which is the most home runs a Pirate had hit this season). Of course, there is no Pirates game without Bay swinging awkwardly at strike three which he did once today.

5. Maholm gets another home win

Maholm has been a model of inconsistency. He is a great starter at home, but a horrible starter on the road. Maholm proved this statement last night despite starting to throw more balls. By the seventh inning he looked erratic and the call to the bullpen could not come fast enough. He pitched seven solid inning allowing only three runs.

 According to Post-Gazette.com, Pirates pitcher Phil Dumatrait is headed to the DL because of a left shoulder injury. In his place will be former Yankee T.J. Beam.

 Dumatrait has been wonderful this season to this point and it will be a crushing blow to Pirates fans, especially after injuries to Xavier Nady and Ryan Doumit.

 Beam made his Major League debut as a New York Yankess on June 17, 2006 and went 4-3 in 2007 for his triple-A team. He went 6-0 with a 1.22 ERA in 2006 with the Yankees double-A and triple-A teams.

 Today is the final game of the Pirates-Blue Jays series. Ian Snell will be going for the Pirates and Dustin McGowan for the Blue Jays.

 McGowan is 5-5 with a 4.15 ERA. While he has a better ERA in the afternoon as opposed to the night, he horrible ERA on the road as well as a horrible ERA on grass.

 Snell is a true wildcard. There is not much to say about him. We all hope that he can continue the great pitching and that the Pirates can get a hard earned sweep.

 Once again Doug Mientkiewicz is the only Pirate to have face the Blue Jay's starter. Mientkiewicz went 0 for 3 against McGowan walking once and striking out once.

 Here are how the Blue Jays hitters have previously fared with Ian Snell:

OPPOSING HITTER	AB	H	2B	3B	HR	RBI	BB	SO	BA	OBP	SLG	OPS
David Eckstein	18	6	1	0	1	1	1	1	.333	.368	.556	.924
Scott Rolen	9	3	0	0	0	1	4	1	.333	.538	.333	.872
Brad Wilkerson	5	1	0	0	0	0	1	2	.200	.333	.200	.533
Matt Stairs	3	1	0	0	0	1	0	1	.333	.333	.333	.667
Lyle Overbay	0	0	0	0	0	0	1	0	.000	1.000	.000	1.000
Totals	35	11	1	0	1	3	7	5	.314	.429	.429	.857

It has been announced that Bill Mazeroski, the hero of the 1960 World Series, will throw out the ceremonial first pitch in the opening game of the Pirates-Yankees series. After this afternoon's game, the Pirates have a day off before the Yankees come to PNC Park for a three game series.

Prediction: Because of the mediocre pitching match up, it will come down to offense. I feel that a sweep of Toronto is very realistic and that is what is going to happen. Pirates 7 Blue Jays 5.