Brewers 6, Pirates 5: Somehow, the Pirates Only Lost by One

by Charlie Wilmoth on Apr 28, 2009 11:36 PM EDT

This was an ugly game that, frankly, the Pirates deserved to lose. The Bucs actually had a 5-1 lead in the bottom of the fifth, but only because they seemed to get all their hits at the right time. The Pirates walked nine batters compared to only one walk for Brewers pitchers, and while some of that had to do with some rather strange ball and strike calls at home plate, some of that also was the Pirates' pitching.

None of the Pirates' pitchers were very good, actually. Paul Maholm allowed five walks and five runs, then was relieved by Jesse Chavez. Rickie Weeks had apparently read the scouting report on Chavez ('One 96 MPH fastball for a strike after another, huh? I can handle that') and homered on Chavez's first pitch. Then Sean Burnett and Evan Meek walked two batters apiece.

So this looked like a close game, but the only Pirates who really played particularly well were Jason Jaramillo and Eric Hinske (who each went 1-for-3 with a double and 2 RBIs), as well as Brian Bixler, who had two hits and scored a run in the fourth thanks to some gutsy, intelligent baserunning.

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Speaking of baserunning,

Freddy getting thrown out at home in the first didn’t help things.

On to tomorrow, I suppose. Go get ’em, Buccos.

by Suffering Buc on Apr 28, 2009 11:50 PM EDT reply actions

Yuck.

We’re reverting to old bad habits.

by bucdaddy on Apr 29, 2009 12:13 AM EDT reply actions

Just wanted to add

that i despise walks.

by bucdaddy on Apr 29, 2009 12:14 AM EDT up reply actions

If I could

I would personally set fire to any pitcher who issued more than one walk that I did not, as manager, call for.

by bucdaddy on Apr 29, 2009 12:18 AM EDT up reply actions

Hey, as bad as it has been, we’re still 2nd in the Central. We just gotta get out of Milwaukee. I don’t want to play the Brewers anymore. We are cursed!

by thelumberco. on Apr 29, 2009 1:19 AM EDT reply actions

Yeah....

Yeah, it’s brutal there these days. Back in 2002, I went to six games there and the Pirates won all six. It was a lot of fun back then, sure the Pirates weren’t all that good, but at least I got to see them win regularly in person. I thought it would continue, with the Pirates being bad, but the Brewers being worse. I think this could be the first year I don’t bother going to Milwaukee since 2001. I’m not gonna waste my time and money if they decide to never show up for the games at Miller. It’s just not fair that the closest stadium to me is the one they can’t win at anymore.

by IAPiratesFan on Apr 29, 2009 1:51 AM EDT up reply actions

Agreed!!!!!!!!!!!

Was at the game last night and am going to todays game. Seemed the only players that came to play were Hinski and Jaramillo. Had to do with playing where they grew up I’m sure. At the game last night you could tell that these teams do not like each other. I think its going to be interesting today. I think if this game gets out of hand either way someones getting plunked and the benches will clear!!!!!!!!!!!!

by matdbratfan on Apr 29, 2009 7:03 AM EDT up reply actions

Going up

for today’s game myself.

Let’s hope nobody gets hurt in the brawl…

:-)

I'd rather be dead than singing "Satisfaction" at forty-five. -- M. Jagger

by cocktailsfor2 on Apr 29, 2009 10:22 AM EDT up reply actions

2 in a row

Bad choice by Russell leaving Maholm in to hit and pitch the 6th. You guys have given 2 away now to the Brewers.

by backtocali on Apr 29, 2009 10:30 AM EDT reply actions

Agreed, but it’s more about the number of walks we have issued in this series than it has been JR’s choices. I mean, sure, he probably left Maholm out there one inning too long on a night when Maholm clearly didn’t have his best stuff, but I can live with a HR or two. What I can’t live with is giving these guys free pass after free pass after free pass. It’s terrible. The HRs hurt, but nearly as bad as the walks have hurt this series so far. Walks and hit batters have beat us in both of the first two games. NINE WALKS last night and five or six on Mon. night! You can’t do that and realistically expect to win because teams are going to make you pay for those walks every time!

by thelumberco. on Apr 29, 2009 11:21 AM EDT up reply actions