Pirates 7, Reds 6: Bucs Take 2-1 Series Lead With Bizarre Win
by Charlie Wilmoth on Apr 17, 2011 5:01 PM EDT
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PrintMan, that was a deeply strange game, with a ton of really unlikely twists and bizarre plays. The Bucs got off to a 2-0 lead when Andrew McCutchen and Jose Tabata hit back-to-back opposite-field homers to start the game, with both homers landing in about the same place in right field. They extended that lead to 4-0 as Edinson Volquez struggled to find the plate in the first inning, with Chris Snyder picking up an RBI on a bases-loaded walk and Ronny Cedeno bringing home another runner on a sacrifice fly.
Jeff Karstens gave up a solo homer to Jonny Gomes in the second, but otherwise held down the fort quite well for a while, racking up six strikeouts mostly by challenging hitters with fastballs that they couldn't seem to believe he'd have the nerve to throw. The Reds picked up a run in the fourth, but things seemed to be going well up to that point.
And then, the fifth. Karstens gave up a solo homer to Miguel Cairo, and then the Reds took a 5-4 lead on an RBI double by Scott Rolen and an RBI single by Jay Bruce. Garrett Jones hit a solo jack in the bottom of the inning, however, and pinch-hitter John Bowker hit an RBI double to give the Pirates another one-run lead.
Jose Veras pitched a scary sixth inning, in which Cairo very clearly leaned into a pitch but got awarded first base anyway, loading the bases for Joey Votto, who Veras struck out. The following inning, however, Veras gave up a solo homer to Jay Bruce.
Then there was the eighth, in which Ronny Cedeno seemed to be trying to set some sort of record for mental errors in an inning. He came up with runners on first and third with no outs and bunted. It was apparently his decision, because Garrett Jones broke late from third and got called out (although the replays made it look like he should have been safe). Then, after a flyout by Steve Pearce, Andrew McCutchen singled with Chris Snyder on second and Cedeno on first, apparently driving home a run - and Cedeno, for some reason, tried to make it to third. He just barely avoided getting tagged out, but there's no way he should have been doing that with two outs, particularly since it seemed he would have been called out before Snyder had crossed the plate.
In the eighth, Evan Meek struck out Stubbs and then ran into trouble, allowing a single and a walk. Clint Hurdle, not wanting to take any chances with a pitcher who has been prone to blowups so far this year, brought in Joel Hanrahan, and Scott Rolen hit a line drive that would have spelled trouble had it not been for ... wait for it ... Ronny Cedeno, who made a great catch and doubled the runner off second.
The ninth inning, too was an adventure, and a particularly surreal one, as there was garbage blowing all over the field and billowing in the air above. Hanrahan inexplicably threw several pitches way out of the strike zone, including one with two runners on base that went to the backstop and allowed the winning run to get into scoring position. Hanrahan got Stubbs to fly out to McCutchen, though, and that, finally, was it. 7-6 Pirates. It was a great game for McCutchen, who went 3-for-3 with two walks, but otherwise ... there were so many ways in which the Pirates could have lost this game, and somehow, they didn't.
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snyder's run definately wouldnt have counted if ronny had been tagged out. snyder was a good 10ft from home plate when ronny slid into third
if ronny had been thrown out, and i were hurdle, rodriguez would be my starting shortstop on monday night
That’s what I figured, since I don’t know how Snyder can beat Cedeno in a 180-foot race. Thanks.
by Charlie Wilmoth on Apr 17, 2011 5:13 PM EDT up reply actions
ronny's mistakes are becoming more and more noticable this season
the weak ground ball up the middle late in the game was obviously the shortstops responsibility yet he pulled up short and neil had to dive down to stop it from going into CF. this play had my jaw dragging the floor.
Same here. IIRC the ball was a few feet to the right of 2B. Even if Cedeno had fielded the ball, I don’t think they get an out there.
Yeah, thinking back it likely wouldn’t have been possible for Ronny to get to it. I guess we’re just missing the days of Jack going all out for every ball and making the most dazzling plays we’d seen every time out.
The ball hit the back edge of the grass
that’s the only reason Walker couldn’t field it. It was a chopper that should have bounced way up but this caused it to stay low and scoot on him so Walker did well just to stop it. Even if Ronny got to it he wouldn’t have had a play.
watch it again if you have the chance.
cedeno pulls up very early on that play. with his momentum, he would be the only person who even had a play on that ball. he took a couple of steps then layed off
can't find a video online
but they showed several replays during the telecast. Tim Neverett was making the exact same comment you are — that Cedeno gave up early on it — and then said Cedeno couldn’t have reached the ball after they showed a replay.
I don’t know what to think of Ronny at this point…it seems like every time he makes a bonehead play like the bunt or the give-up play you mentioned, we curse him, then he comes right back with a dazzler like the DP in the 8th. Here’s hoping he gets his head together, because physically he’s just as good a defensive SS as Jack was a couple years ago, it’s a matter of getting the concentration together to keep his focus, something that Jack was a master of and which Ronny has yet to grasp.
But then the other issue is the bat. With better defense, he’d be a slight upgrade over Cezar Osiris.
by Adam Reynolds on Apr 17, 2011 5:21 PM EDT via mobile up reply actions
Auto correct…I meant Izturis
by Adam Reynolds on Apr 17, 2011 5:22 PM EDT via mobile up reply actions
Agreed
I think of the mistake he got away with almost making the last out at 3rd in the 8th.
http://pittsburgh.pirates.mlb.com/video/play.jsp?tcid=mm_pit_vid&c_id=pit
Check out the replay. Look around the 8 second mark. It was a HORRIBLE slide into third. And by the grace of God, he beat the throw. Who the hell slides into the outfield side of the back in that instance?
The glare of the spotlight is harsh, and the pressure that success breeds immense. We revere our heroes, but expect much. And criticism can come as easily as praise.
I can't believe...
you left out the most bizarre play of all, Bruce’s swinging bunt in the 9th where Snyder threw the ball away and Bruce was tagged out after he took a step towards 2nd base.
It may have been a strange play...
but you have to give Walker props for backing up 1B on the play. There are a lot of 2B that would not have been in the proper position like Walker was.
His glove may not be the best…nor his range…but it certainly appears that the time he spent with Maz in Spring Training was time well spent.
Oh yeah. Totally forgot that one. Tons of strange stuff today.
by Charlie Wilmoth on Apr 17, 2011 10:21 PM EDT via mobile up reply actions
Bruce hit the HR off of Veras.....
Not Stubbs.
by CabreraKilledMyChildhood on Apr 17, 2011 5:24 PM EDT reply actions
Pedro casts a shadow even with these wins. Hope he looks better going forward.
On the other hand, can’t say enough about Tabata, McCutchen, Walker, and Jones. Particularly Walker’s offensive development.
by Adam Reynolds on Apr 17, 2011 5:26 PM EDT via mobile reply actions
cincy's ballpark is crazy. very few of the homeruns hit this series would have left PNC
except for Hernandez’ shot. that one may have hit the restaurant… in monroeville
by white angus on Apr 17, 2011 5:35 PM EDT up reply actions 1 recs
Yep,
101 on a worthless pitch that missed the strike zone high by a few feet, if I remember correctly.
Indeed, and I was impressed at the speed for sure.
nevertheless, it was one of the worst he’s thrown all year. Sort of negates the positive side of it. haha
Yeah, 101 is impressive.
I don’t care if he threw it straight up in the air. That’s awesome.
Santa Roberto Clemente
Ora Pro Nobis
FireRickReilly
After a pitch like that, he should pull a Duren and take a pair of glasses out of his pocket. Give ’em a good rub.
by Vlad on Apr 18, 2011 9:02 AM EDT via mobile up reply actions
pulled a Rick Vaughn
Players who should be in the Hall of Fame: Pat TIllman, Dwight White, Donnie Shell, L.C. Greenwood, Ray Guy, Steve Tasker, Jack Butler, Greg Llyod, Andy Russel, Cris Carter, Kevin Greene, Curtis Martin, Willie Roaf, Andre Reed and Jerry Kramer
"Baseball is like church. Many attend, but few understand." Wes Westrum
Canal Street Chronicles resident Steelers Fan
by WVPiratesfan on Apr 18, 2011 5:15 PM EDT up reply actions
102 on the stadium gun…
Side note – $20 says Chapman hits the surgery circuit before the all star break. Averaging 92 and now down with ‘arm soreness’, and confimed ‘arm inflamation’… arm = elbow = TJ surgery.
Stadium Gun
Listening to the broadcast tonight, the announces claimed Chapman hit 106. On that pitch, gameday listed it’s release speed at 102.4. So, apparently they’re very, VERY generous about rounding up.
Is Hanrahan the first pirate who touches triple digit?
anyway he seems the only one can trust in the pen…..
For whatever it’s worth, I think the FSN gun had him topping out at 99.
by Charlie Wilmoth on Apr 18, 2011 1:05 AM EDT up reply actions
101...
on the next to last pitch to Stubbs. Not sure what Stubbs is thinking swinging at a 2-0 pitch with the bases loaded after Hanrahan had walked the previous batter. You have to take at least one strike there.
I interviewed Jones on the postgame show and he confirmed that Cedeno bunted on his own. Almost as bad a decision as going to third on Cutch’s single and that might have been the dumbest move I’ve seen since…….Lastings did the exact same thing last year, but did get thrown out. At this point it doesn’t even matter what the alternatives are, you have to sit Cedeno and Alvarez for a couple days. LHP tonight, so I start Pearce at third again.
The Hammer Speaks
Twitter: @DTonPirates and @hammerspeaks
I trust...
…that most of our relievers will cause accelerated heart rates for all of us throughout the year. Does that count?
Wow
I’ve been watching baseball for a long time and I can’t remember a crazier game than this. Very entertaining, and I’m so game they won it because this is one.
off topic: ZVR
i asked this on another site, but why has ZVR only pitched one game so far this season? anyone heard anything about this?
not sure
but if I m not mistaken, WV has had a bunch of rained out games. I mean, Cain’s only had 2 starts, and I dont think anyone has 3, so (unless I’m wrong), he’ll have another start in a day or two.
I dont mind Cedeno doing a suicide squeeze. It’s just that Jones has to know so he can get a better jump.
by Adam Reynolds on Apr 17, 2011 7:04 PM EDT via mobile reply actions
Hurdle is a stand-up guy
He coulda thrown Cedeno under the bus (a la Jim Tracy) but took responsibility in that play. I don’t think he called that hence the delayed GFJ jump.
by BadAndy on Apr 17, 2011 7:08 PM EDT via mobile up reply actions
Bunted....
on his own. Jones got a great jump considering he didn’t know it was coming.
The Hammer Speaks
Twitter: @DTonPirates and @hammerspeaks
meek
it may be time to give him lower leverage innings. Have him be the guy out of the pen to start the 6th or 7th…
Also, don't start Pearce tomorrow. Pedro needs to work through it.
He looks ugly, but its not like Pearce or rodriguez are offensive upgrades. More days off obviously aren’t the magic tonic. Get Alvarez to work through it until Memorial Day at least.
Keep giving Cedeno starts for the next 6 weeks too. If he can’t cut it at the major league level, let’s find out for sure.
by Adam Reynolds on Apr 17, 2011 8:49 PM EDT via mobile reply actions
I think everything about Ronny Cedeno has already been found out for sure. He’s a career negative WAR player who can’t hit (in 1900 PA) and can’t field anything better than average.
by Suffering Buc on Apr 17, 2011 10:05 PM EDT up reply actions
Yep
Pedro just magically had his 2 best days at the plate after he was benched for a game. He regressed today but I’m still fine with playing him tomorrow.
2 best days
I must’ve missed those days…
by Adam Reynolds on Apr 18, 2011 10:58 AM EDT via mobile up reply actions
You must have
The only 2 games he hit the ball to left center, including his best hit of the year in the 2B.
The Capper has been given the closer job for the Twins after Joe Nathan had a couple of bad appearances. (Even though Capps hasn’t been doing great either).
Snyder
He looks like he went back to his old batting stance….last year he was much more open. Hopefully it helps
Last year's record after 15 games: 7-8.
They had just begun the free fall. That was the last game they were at least 1 game below .500.
The last game they were at least 2 games under was the 30th game. And then it went south extremely quickly.
Last year, they had allowed 111 runs to this point, while this year they’ve allowed 69. They scored 1 more run to this point last year.
Runs Allowed is crazy. Despite the record it shows that with a little better pitching (so far) the team looks very improved (IMO). We’ve hung tough in a lot of games and have blown a few games so far so in all fairness i think to this point, i like what i see with this team.
We have to unify and watch our flag ascend!
Garbage
Watched the fans near the front rows 3rd base side purposefully dump garbage all over the field in the 9th inning with nobody there to stop/repremand. Pretty lousy sportsmanship… but the fans were nice enough as a whole.
I’ve attended two games this year (Long commutes to blame)… this and the 14 inning game… I’m on a roll, and couldn’t have asked for better games.
I was at the game, too.
There was so much garbage everywhere, it was ridiculous.
Don’t forget the fireworks “accidentally” going off twice while the Pirates were at the plate.
on the Reds broadcast
when that happened the color man said “let’s hope he’s not working the nuclear missile silos” LOL
Yinzers uber alles
On Pedro
he needs to start going to the plate with the approach of going opposite field and then finding something in his wheel house to drive. He turns everything over to the right side of the field, not a recipe for success. to me thats his problem, he’s trying to pull everything….
We have to unify and watch our flag ascend!
today's game
Watched the DVR of the game. I don’t quite know how to feel. That was a horribly played game by both teams. On the plus side: We won, Karstens was ok, Cutch’s bat came alive
On the other side: Pedro looks terrible, Meek is struggling, the IF defense looked bad, and Hanrahan looked shaky.
In short, i’m glad we won but I think we have to play better than that most nights to win.
Yinzers uber alles
Garbage in Cincinnati?
“…as there was garbage blowing all over the field and billowing in the air above.” What a shock, garbage flying around in Cincinnati. Meanwhile, the Buccos are almost back to .500. Winning a game they should have lost due to some mental errors is a good sign. I doubt a John Russell Pirates team would win a game like this. But Cedeno is definitely in need of serious talking to by Hurdle. He made some inexcusable mental errors in this game that could have spelled doom. But he did redeem himself with the DP in the 8th. Still, Cedeno’s mental performance is cause for concern.
Personal games notes
Karstens shouldn’t pitch more than 3-4 innings. It’s been proven a million times that he’s effective the first and second time through the lineup but struggles/sucks the 3rd time.
They should put him back to long relief and let either NoRelation start, or call up Lincoln until Ohlendorf comes back.
Pedro looks bad, but Pedro is the future. So Pedro plays to figure things out.
Cedeno is no good. But D’Arnaud is the best option we have behind him (IMO including Rodriguez), and he should be given a couple of months in AAA to show he can handle advanced pitching. Until then, well, Cedeno it is.
I was following the game on MLB Gameday (no better option available), the strike zone calls when Karstens was pitching were pretty bad !
Another bizarre moment:
A fireworks technician at the game was hospitalized with facial injuries when a mine went off prematurely in one of the smokestacks on the outfield wall.
Poor guy. Hope he’s OK.
Win
A much needed win against a formidable division foe.
Those are always important.
Funny how we’re doing the opposite of last year.
Playing well on the road and bad at home.
Let’s get that evened out.
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