Pirates Improbably Beat Dodgers on Lastings Milledge's Walk-Off Hit
by Charlie Wilmoth on Sep 27, 2009 4:56 PM EDT
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PrintI can't believe the Pirates won this game, which you could feel them losing as soon as Matt Capps entered a tie game in the ninth. The Dodgers could have clinched the NL West with a win today, but thanks to a crazy ninth-inning comeback by the Bucs, they'll have to wait.
The Pirates took an early lead by scoring two runs in the third on a wild pitch and an RBI double by Andy LaRoche. Daniel McCutchen started and got some help from the Dodgers, who ran themselves into two outs in what could have been a troublesome fourth inning. Still, he pitched well overall, allowing only two runs in six innings and outlasting Clayton Kershaw. The Dodgers tied the game in the seventh, though, and the Bucs couldn't retake the lead in the bottom of the inning despite a hustling one-out triple by Andrew McCutchen.
Joel Hanrahan returned and pitched a scoreless eighth, leaving with a score of 2-2. Normally I'm a fan of using your closer in high-leverage situations like a tie game in the ninth, but that's only when your closer is actually your best relief pitcher, which Capps plainly isn't right now. I found myself wondering why John Russell didn't just leave Hanrahan in. Anyway, Capps gave up three runs, leaving behind a 5-2 deficit.
Delwyn Young began the bottom of the inning with a single off the Dodgers' excellent closer Jonathan Broxton, though, and Brandon Moss and Andy LaRoche followed that with singles of their own. LaRoche's brought in Young and left the Bucs with men at second and third following an error by Rafael Furcal. The Dodgers intentionally walked Garrett Jones for the third time in the game--it was a weird game--and Lastings Milledge followed that with a long hit to right-center that probably only should have scored two runs, but was misplayed by Andre Ethier, allowing Jones to come home. What a wild game. It wasn't quite the Pirates coming back for six runs against Billy Wagner and the Astros, but it was close.
UPDATE: And... Capps gets the win. Traditional statistics!
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BTW
This just in, Andy LaRoche seems to be remembering how to hit lately.
I don’t know how much discretion official scorers get, but it’d sure be nice if the win could be awarded to D. McCutchen instead of Capps.
You’d think they could give enough discretion where at least the pitcher who finished the previous inning could be given the win, just for instances like this. McCutchen deserved it, but I’d settle for Hanrahan over freakin Capps.
I know there’s some discretion in situations like this, but I think maybe the reliever has to blow a lead or something. If there’s any earthly means not to give it to Capps, it should be employed.
Basically the rule is:
brief and ineffective appearance can cost the pitcher of record a W.
However, there was a lead change in there, so can’t really give it to Hanrahan. Someone else would have to come in after Capps, and he could be the one to get the W.
Sounds like it was a great game.
Unfortunately, wasn’t on TV, and MLB.tv blacked it out. I guess I have no one but myself to blame for living in Pittsburgh and wanting to watch the Pirates.
I don't know what happened
Shocked, if only it meant something, then I would do something that would express excitement.
Show me a guy whos afraid to look bad, and I'll show you a guy you can beat every time. -Lou Brock
I his 4 wins this season
Matt Capps has an 11.25 ERA.
Man Dans last chance for a win
and, again, the pen blows it…..well Capps but he’s part of this disaster pen.
Oh well, weird game indeed. Jones strikes out too often. He’s pretty terrible against lefties. Got to work on that big fella
by dulciusEXasperis on Sep 27, 2009 7:05 PM EDT reply actions
"This just in, Andy LaRoche seems to be remembering how to hit lately."
Some time off recently did him some good at the plate and in the field.
“I found myself wondering why John Russell didn’t just leave Hanrahan in. Anyway, Capps gave up three runs, leaving behind a 5-2 deficit.”
This was Hanrahan’s first appearance in 12 days because of elbow worries, right? We’re probably lucky he’s pitching at all to finish up the season.
Meanwhile, Bob Nutting has been whispering in Frank Coonelly’s ear that he doesn’t want to pay Capps millions next year.
That’s possible re: Hanrahan, but he only threw ten pitches. One would think he’d have more left, even with the elbow worries.
by Charlie Wilmoth on Sep 27, 2009 7:38 PM EDT up reply actions
Question.
Meanwhile, Bob Nutting has been whispering in Frank Coonelly’s ear that he doesn’t want to pay Capps millions next year.
Would you?
by IAPiratesFan on Sep 27, 2009 9:35 PM EDT up reply actions
I think Milledge could be a star.
....You'll be able to spit nails, kid. You're gonna eat lightning and you're gonna crap thunder....
I like him too
But ran across an interesting stat. You know how many RBI Milledge has in road games this season? Two. How on earth do you do that?
RBI is meaningless.
It’s a stupid, meaningless stat that is entirely dependent on the rest of your teammates being on base when you go up to bat. I hate the phrase “RBI Machine” as though you have some sort of influence on the rest of your team being on base.
by IAPiratesFan on Sep 27, 2009 9:40 PM EDT up reply actions
Wife and I went to the game. Wife was mad at me for not leaving early. Wife was later visably excited that we did NOT leave.
It’s great to be right for a change…
Knowing the ways of the wimminfolk...
…you may not want to get too used to that feeling.
Congratulations for now, though.
My uncle once said to me:
Getting married is a death sentence. She’ll probably be the last person you see before you die and then you’ll spend 50 years together. If you really want to live, just don’t get married.
by IAPiratesFan on Sep 27, 2009 9:55 PM EDT up reply actions
This is why I follow the Pirates
and not those awful Steelers. At least someone in this town knows how to win.
Even more improbable
The Pirates were the only local team to have a winning weekend.
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