Snap Judgments - Game 12 - Pirates 9, Reds 1
Ah, the "sweep" smell of success! The Bucs completed their first home sweep since April of last year in beating the Reds, 9-1, on a rainy day in Pittsburgh. I didn't have time to write yesterday because of baseball and softball commitments. So, in the essence of making up for lost time, let's get into today's Snap Judgments:
1.) Gorzo Rebounds From Horrid Start, Pitches Well Enough to Win
While Ian Snell is leading the voting so far this season in the election for Team Ace, I still have very high hopes for Tom Gorzelanny. He's been wildly inconsistent so far this season and has reportedly been battling shoulder stiffness since spring training, but yesterday's start was key on many levels for both the Pirates and Gorzo.
"He had a quality start in bad conditions," manager John Russell said after the game.
Conditions aside (it looked pretty gross in Pittsburgh during the game), Gorzo cruised through five innings. He got into some trouble in the 6th and did surrender four walks, but all told, Gorzelanny made a big stride yesterday toward regaining his 14-win form of a year ago.
"Hey, do you see my batting average up there?" - "No, but I think I finally found the strike zone!"
2.) The Lumber Company, circa 2008
Ryan Doumit welcomed Johnny Cueto to the bigs in the 2nd by depositing a fastball about 5 rows deep into the stands above the right centerfield notch. It was the first hit by a left-handed batter given up by Cueto so far this season. ESPN keeps reminding me how good Cueto is supposed to be, but they forget to remind me that the guy is 22 and made just his third Major League start yesterday. In any event, the Bucs got to him (and the rest of the Reds' pitchers) in a big way yesterday. Xavier Nady hit the death-blow homer in the 6th inning off Cueto, a two-run shot that made the score 5-0. And just for good measure, Jason Bay - who has been hitting the ball very well in the past 5 games - added a three-run bomb in the 7th off Todd Coffey.
Final score, 9-1. Three home runs, one each by the 3, 4, and 5 hitters. If LaRoche could find his swing this year before August, the Pirates may have a very powerful 3-through-6.
Xavier Nady in the gym, building up his hair muscles.
3.) Another Day, Another Error
No "Snap Judgments" would be complete without me bagging on Brian Bixler. So here it is:
While Bixler went 1/4 at the plate, struck out twice and stranded two, it was his throwing error in the 5th that bothered me. While it didn't hurt the Pirates on the scoreboard, the error is indicative a troubling trend among Pirates infielders. Luis Rivas actually played well at second yesterday (his natural position) and Bixler made a couple of decent defensive plays, but he screwed up another routine ground ball and threw it away. Gorzo worked around it and ended the 5th by inducing Edwin Encarnacion's weak tapper to Rivas for the third out.
When Bixler plays a perfect game, I'll give him his props. Until then, I am forced to be unmerciful. Jack Wilson is supposed to return on the 19th. Pirates fans everywhere are praying that return date holds true.
Bixler in Indianapolis, where he should be today.
1.) Gorzo Rebounds From Horrid Start, Pitches Well Enough to Win
While Ian Snell is leading the voting so far this season in the election for Team Ace, I still have very high hopes for Tom Gorzelanny. He's been wildly inconsistent so far this season and has reportedly been battling shoulder stiffness since spring training, but yesterday's start was key on many levels for both the Pirates and Gorzo.
"He had a quality start in bad conditions," manager John Russell said after the game.
Conditions aside (it looked pretty gross in Pittsburgh during the game), Gorzo cruised through five innings. He got into some trouble in the 6th and did surrender four walks, but all told, Gorzelanny made a big stride yesterday toward regaining his 14-win form of a year ago.
"Hey, do you see my batting average up there?" - "No, but I think I finally found the strike zone!"2.) The Lumber Company, circa 2008
Ryan Doumit welcomed Johnny Cueto to the bigs in the 2nd by depositing a fastball about 5 rows deep into the stands above the right centerfield notch. It was the first hit by a left-handed batter given up by Cueto so far this season. ESPN keeps reminding me how good Cueto is supposed to be, but they forget to remind me that the guy is 22 and made just his third Major League start yesterday. In any event, the Bucs got to him (and the rest of the Reds' pitchers) in a big way yesterday. Xavier Nady hit the death-blow homer in the 6th inning off Cueto, a two-run shot that made the score 5-0. And just for good measure, Jason Bay - who has been hitting the ball very well in the past 5 games - added a three-run bomb in the 7th off Todd Coffey.
Final score, 9-1. Three home runs, one each by the 3, 4, and 5 hitters. If LaRoche could find his swing this year before August, the Pirates may have a very powerful 3-through-6.
Xavier Nady in the gym, building up his hair muscles.3.) Another Day, Another Error
No "Snap Judgments" would be complete without me bagging on Brian Bixler. So here it is:
While Bixler went 1/4 at the plate, struck out twice and stranded two, it was his throwing error in the 5th that bothered me. While it didn't hurt the Pirates on the scoreboard, the error is indicative a troubling trend among Pirates infielders. Luis Rivas actually played well at second yesterday (his natural position) and Bixler made a couple of decent defensive plays, but he screwed up another routine ground ball and threw it away. Gorzo worked around it and ended the 5th by inducing Edwin Encarnacion's weak tapper to Rivas for the third out.
When Bixler plays a perfect game, I'll give him his props. Until then, I am forced to be unmerciful. Jack Wilson is supposed to return on the 19th. Pirates fans everywhere are praying that return date holds true.
Bixler in Indianapolis, where he should be today.
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