Pirates Back Above .500 After Win Over Red Sox

by Charlie Wilmoth on Jun 25, 2011 1:50 AM EDT

The Pirates took the first game of their three-game set against the Red Sox, 3-1. The Sox picked up a run in the first inning but did not score thereafter. Ronny Cedeno kick-started a rally in the bottom of the third by bunting his way on. Michael McKenry followed that with a double, Paul Maholm walked, Jose Tabata singled in a run, and Chase D'Arnaud's double play brought another one in. The Pirates added another run in the sixth on Lyle Overbay's RBI single. The Red Sox put a bunch of runners on base, but the Pirates got a lot of big outs to prevent them from scoring, particularly in the seventh and eighth innings. The Bucs moved to 38-37 with the win. It's pretty nice to see them grab one against the Red Sox here.

Also, via a team press release, the Bucs have reacquired Steven Jackson from the Reds for a player to be named. He'll just be minor-league depth this time - it will be a big shock if he makes it back to the majors with a team this good.

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This was quite the game.

Thank you Ned Colletti.

by ryebr3ad on Jun 25, 2011 2:22 AM EDT reply actions

Steven JacKson. Just the move we’ve been waiting for. And yeah, awesome game!

by Mr. E on Jun 25, 2011 2:46 AM EDT reply actions

A Cedeno bunt single, a McKenry double, and a Maholm walk…what a strange way to start an inning…

by Superstar25 on Jun 25, 2011 3:02 AM EDT reply actions

Just like Hurdle drew it up

on the chalkboard.

by JRoth95 on Jun 25, 2011 8:46 AM EDT up reply actions

I had to work until the 7th inning…any word on why D’Arnaud was playing third? I’d assumed he’d been brought up to play in front of Cedeno and Wood would be playing third.

www.stealingfirstbase.com

by Stealing First Base on Jun 25, 2011 3:38 AM EDT reply actions

Cedeno still the starter

Hurdle claims he was never benched more like a wake up call. Cedeno has played solid defense. I think Chase will see a lot of time at third and if he does really good he could go to short if cedeno struggles and epdro comes back.

by Joey Mooney on Jun 25, 2011 8:23 AM EDT via mobile up reply actions

Cedeno the SS > Wood the 3B
Cedeno defensively > Chase defensively

pretty simple

by Mr. E on Jun 25, 2011 11:31 AM EDT up reply actions

were there any pirate fans in the stadium?

Reliably, the Boston media would have you think Red Sox fans are kind of like Dead Heads, but instead of jerry garcia or bob weir, they follow (??? Kevin Youkilis and Dustin Pedroia?) from city to city. Not sure if they dance in the concourse or not.

In today’s episode, they “took over PNC Park” last night.

http://www.boston.com/sports/baseball/redsox/articles/2011/06/25/without_timely_hits_red_sox_drop_third_straight/

by mocasdad on Jun 25, 2011 5:56 AM EDT reply actions

they somehow didn’t seem quite so obnoxious after the Ortiz out. The five Sox guys sitting next to me were so drunk they won’t know their team lost until about two this afternoon. They did ask who fills up PNC when Boston isn’t playing.

by crusty on Jun 25, 2011 9:04 AM EDT up reply actions

they're like cockroaches

RedSox fans can be just as obnoxious as Yankees fans. So full of themselves and sure of their perception that the baseball world revolves around Fenway park.

Excellent, excellent win my Buccos

by ImmaculatePerception on Jun 25, 2011 9:15 AM EDT via mobile up reply actions

BOSTON fans are all obnoxious, no matter the sport

Maybe it’s the puritan history of the region, but everything with Boston fans is a morality play. It’s not just enough to win. It has to mean their teams and by extension their fans are superior in all ways…mentally, morally, physically, and character-wise.

Fans of other teams may do that to some extent but nothing compares to the way Boston media and fans imbue their teams, and by extension, themselves with this aura of full-blown superiority. I’ve lived in Philly (during the Cup years in the mid 70s) and observed fan behavior over periods of time in Seattle and Minnesota, and I’ve never seen anything like it in those markets.

So, let’s go Bucs, win at least one of the next two. It will be so sweet to tweak the Sox fans I work with and live among.

by mocasdad on Jun 25, 2011 1:49 PM EDT up reply actions 2 recs

After the game

There was a shot of a couple in Red Sox shirts standing behind the visitor’s dugout and the expression on the dude’s face face was just priceless. He looks so lost and confused, like someone had just stolen his puppy. Made a sweet victory even sweeter.

by Aphthakid on Jun 25, 2011 9:36 AM EDT up reply actions

Ahh, so appropriately titled “Stunned”

Thank you Ned Colletti.

by ryebr3ad on Jun 25, 2011 11:51 AM EDT via mobile up reply actions

More Bux Fans

From my perspective, 60 or 65% Bux. Fewer Sox than Phils fans, and they made less noise. Only hot a few chants really going. One thing about visiting fans is that they’re always there early. At first pitch, they are often
majority Pirates fans drift in for 3 innings to fill in the empty seats.

Man, bottom half of Sox lineup was weak. They’re not the same without Papi and DH.

by Horace Clarke on Jun 25, 2011 10:12 AM EDT via mobile up reply actions

and no Crawford or Drew

by Mr. E on Jun 25, 2011 11:33 AM EDT up reply actions

And no Beckett tonight. Good time to play these guys in NL park. Might see Gonzalez in OF and Papi at 1B tonight.

by Horace Clarke on Jun 25, 2011 11:43 AM EDT via mobile up reply actions

Drew has been unbelievably bad this season

We should be happy if he gets any starts. Check out the espn article up now. He has like 3 extra base hits all year and is struggling against righties, who used to be his bread and butter

by GTrain on Jun 25, 2011 2:00 PM EDT up reply actions

a team this good.

Easily my favorite part of this entire post. Thank u!

by Taz101 on Jun 25, 2011 6:13 AM EDT reply actions

+1

I saw that too lol

by BigB2323 on Jun 25, 2011 9:40 AM EDT up reply actions

Heh, I came in here to post the same thing. When’s the last time Charlie could type something like that?

Put on your dancin' shoes.

by PensFan024 on Jun 25, 2011 9:46 AM EDT up reply actions

Mine too.

That’s the attitude I’m talkin’ about.

by bucdaddy on Jun 25, 2011 11:41 AM EDT up reply actions

+1

same here

by johnnycuff on Jun 25, 2011 12:40 PM EDT up reply actions

The last time the Pirates were within three games of first place this far into the season was 9/7/97.

by Traco Bucco on Jun 25, 2011 7:55 AM EDT reply actions

Man that was a nail biter

We should have scored more runs as well. We had 2 situations of a runner on third and 0 outs only to strike out or pop out followed by a double play.

However we did get big outs too and you can’t stop praising the Hammer.

Who is our AS this year?? Walker, Cutch or Hammer?

Do they go the easy route and give us one AS reliever again like they did last year?

by eyeofhorus777 on Jun 25, 2011 8:02 AM EDT reply actions

i think cutch makes it too

We have to unify and watch our flag ascend!

by C Shint on Jun 25, 2011 8:13 AM EDT up reply actions

Cutch and Hammer IMO are locks.

Yinzers uber alles

by BostonBuc on Jun 25, 2011 8:47 AM EDT up reply actions

They'd have to work hard to ignore him

Although, because he’s excelling in all facets of the game, I’m not sure he has a standout trait that keeps him in the minds of other. Very good D this year, but not clearly best in the league; lots of pop for that position, but not standout HR numbers; tons of speed, but few SBs; great OPS, but merely good AVG.

And Hanrahan is an easy choice. But they clearly both deserve to go.

by JRoth95 on Jun 25, 2011 8:50 AM EDT up reply actions

Kar-Stens the Magnificent

by bucdaddy on Jun 25, 2011 11:42 AM EDT up reply actions

This scenerio happens too often

We have seen this nearly every game…Its mind numbing how predictable the bucs are when we have a man on 3rd and 0 out….almost as often is the sac to get the man to 3rd and just to have the next two batters fail….this needs to be corrected.

I think we get 2 guys in Hammer and walker….as reserves…..Cutch is left off.

by HeadlineTN on Jun 25, 2011 12:01 PM EDT up reply actions

Pirates have a better win% than the Reds

Yes we are in third place! Whooooooo!

by Joey Mooney on Jun 25, 2011 8:23 AM EDT via mobile reply actions

I've been waiting for that!

Woooo!!!!

by JRoth95 on Jun 25, 2011 8:47 AM EDT up reply actions

Watching Veras vs Papi in the 8th

I think I’ve seen the game 3 times at this point. At 9 I’ll turn on WEEI to hear the Sox whining.

Yinzers uber alles

by BostonBuc on Jun 25, 2011 8:49 AM EDT reply actions

+1

I only caught bits of the game on radio, and then had to go to bed, but I think I’ll be watching sometime today.

by JRoth95 on Jun 25, 2011 8:51 AM EDT up reply actions

Sale the Theo and Gonzalez

we just had the sale the Theo call. Earlier we had the Sale the Gonzalez call saying if he can’t hit with bases loaded he’s no good. LOL

Yinzers uber alles

by BostonBuc on Jun 25, 2011 9:47 AM EDT up reply actions

This is just priceless.

Put on your dancin' shoes.

by PensFan024 on Jun 25, 2011 9:53 AM EDT up reply actions

lets go bucs

kiep the dream alive

by karreemofwheat on Jun 25, 2011 9:57 AM EDT up reply actions

We have a need at 1B

since they’re offering :)

by Mr. E on Jun 25, 2011 11:35 AM EDT up reply actions

BBTN: Mark Mulder thinks were in it for real

Check the video on the side of the article:
http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/recap?gameId=310624123

Mulder might be a little more optimistic then some of us are who seem to think we will inevitably collapse. I was impressed with him last night on BBTN. I was kind of expecting them to talk about Boston’s struggles but he just kept on bringing up how impressed he was with the Pirates.

by Zach Buccos on Jun 25, 2011 10:05 AM EDT reply actions

Them damn Battlin' Buccos

"It's better to be an optimist who is sometimes wrong than a pessimist who is always right"

by CAGGS on Jun 25, 2011 10:58 AM EDT up reply actions

I'm thinking that,

unlike the past few years, there’s no “collapse” in this team. Yeah, they may lose, but it’s incentive, not inevitable.

Good starting pitching puts a steel rod in the collective backbone. And great relief relaxes late innings.

My heros have always been Steelers...

by wozzle on Jun 25, 2011 11:00 AM EDT up reply actions

No one talking about Diaz and Overbay???

I have hated these two guys more than anyone… well… maybe not anyone! These two are one big reason we got a win behind also hated Ronny Cedeno and the poor bat of old fort McKenry. Could Overbay have found his swing or was he just luckily not hitting those hard grounders to the second baseman. Diaz had a good throw to second base and got a very important out or would have Jones made the same throw? I am all for upgrading first base and right field but if these two guys are coming around the Pirates could have the Platoon they have wanted all year. I say keep sending them out with left handed pitching at least.

by Joey Mooney on Jun 25, 2011 10:59 AM EDT via mobile reply actions

BATTTLIN' BUCS

by GTrain on Jun 25, 2011 11:01 AM EDT up reply actions

Feel in Pittsburgh

I’m sure this has been asked a million times, but as a student at Ohio State who’s from the D.C. area that’s not a fan of the Penguins or the Steelers, only the Buccos (it’s a complicated story)… what’s the overall feel of Buccos baseball right now in the Steel City?

Are people getting amped? Is radio buzzing about them instead of talking about Big Ben and the Penguins (I know the Jagr news is big news right now, but besides that) can you walk the streets and see Cutch and Walker jersey a plenty?

I know after we won last night I proudly rocked my Walker jersey to the bar. It of course prompted three responses at a bar in Columbus, OH:

1. The Pirates? WTF?
2. Cleveland fans being D-Bags and citing the fact they swept us (I’ll give it to them)
3. Cinci fans trying to talk shit. My simple, silence inducing comeback: 5-1 this year. Actually, it usually didn’t shut them up, it usually prompted them to say something like… Talk shit when you guys make the playoffs.

by Zach Buccos on Jun 25, 2011 11:10 AM EDT reply actions

like fans of their nfl counterparts

Reds fans think their team is the shit after 1 playoff appearance (a first round sweep) following several losing years in a row.

by theatrain on Jun 25, 2011 11:17 AM EDT up reply actions

Indians

Any fans of any franchise with a grand total of two world titles, and not one since 1948, have absolutely no right to start talking trash about the Bucs.

by SteelStealth on Jun 25, 2011 11:36 AM EDT up reply actions 1 recs

Forgive me,

but I’m amped and I don’t give a flying fig about anyone else.

by bucdaddy on Jun 25, 2011 11:45 AM EDT up reply actions

Hey guys

Just wanted to say that, as my profile page implies, I consider myself to be a fan of both the Bucs and the Red Sox…though as my page also implies, I’ve posted far more on OTM than here. I’ll be coming to Pittsburgh in the fall to start law school, though, so I look forward to being able to see the Bucs a lot more and enjoy that.

Just wanted to say how impressed I was at PNC park last night…and I mean that in a totally non-condescending way. I sat in front of a couple Sox “fans” who didn’t know what a dugout was, etc. There are fans like this everywhere, of course. But anyway, the point is, whenever a Let’s Go Sox chant was started up, it was almost immediately drowned out by a Lets Go Bucs chant from the whole stadium. When playoff baseball comes, this city is going to be electric.

McCutchen might be one of the most fun players in the whole sport to watch. Even when he didn’t get a hit, like last night, he just emanates coiled power from the plate.

by Sologub on Jun 25, 2011 11:53 AM EDT reply actions

Agree with your assessment. Moved to Pgh in 2007 and first thing I did was buy season tix. Came on board with FC/NH regime. Also AL guy—-Yankee fan from northern NJ, who has always liked Bux as NL team. All things considered, thought last night was among best Buc crowds since I’ve been here. Great night. At a small event w NH two years ago, he spoke about what a great place this would be to win in and as an outsider, I agree with him.

by Horace Clarke on Jun 25, 2011 2:23 PM EDT via mobile up reply actions

When playoff baseball comes, this city is going to be electric.

For some reason, that quote makes me feel all warm inside.

by Zach Buccos on Jun 25, 2011 2:26 PM EDT up reply actions

Minor League notes

It seems we have a bunch of guys bouncing back throughout the system.

Anyone notice Gorkys is now up to .290 in AAA? Still only 23 also.
Evan Chambers has 3 HR in his last 5 games, OPS up to .701
Mel Rojas finally starting to show a pulse also, hitting .301 in 73 June ABs
Ryan Hafner (2010 17th round bonus baby) now at 8IP 7H 6K 0BB 0R for State College

Stetson Allie makes his second start of the year for the Spikes tonight.

by Mr. E on Jun 25, 2011 12:04 PM EDT reply actions