Pirates 7, Jays 6: Alex Presley Helps Bucs Survive Home-Run Barrage, Comeback Attempt

by Charlie Wilmoth on Jun 29, 2011 1:45 AM EDT

Alex Presley led the Pirates to a 7-6 win over the Blue Jays in his 2011 major-league debut Wednesday. The Bucs jumped out to a 6-1 lead thanks to a two-run homer by Presley in the third (his first big-league homer), followed by a four-run rally in the fourth (to which Presley contributed an RBI single).

I was out in Pittsburgh watching the game at Belvedere's, and I saw the 6-1 score and tuned out for a while. I turned around what seemed to be a short time later, only to see Tony Watson throw a ball to Corey Patterson that sailed over the wall in right, and Watson immediately gave up another jack to Edwin Encarnacion. There was a two-run homer by Jose Bautista in the bottom of the fourth in there too, and then end result was that the game was closer than it probably should have been, with the Pirates winning 7-6.

There were six homers in the game, with a second homer by Encarnacion and a seventh-inning solo shot by Andrew McCutchen in addition to those mentioned above.

It's obviously far, far too early to crow about Presley, but it's nice to see him have success in his first game this year. Also, it's nice that when a team comes back like the Jays did tonight, the announcers simply need to say the name "Joel Hanrahan," and I feel like things are going to be fine.

The Pirates are now 40-38.

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dont forget

matt diaz was 3-4 with a triple, i thought the world was going to end when he got his 3rd hit

by bbautista24 on Jun 29, 2011 1:58 AM EDT reply actions

that triple really should have an asterik beside it

by white angus on Jun 29, 2011 7:59 AM EDT up reply actions

that shoulda been scored as a

Single and a 2-base error with no RBI for Diaz

by BadAndy on Jun 29, 2011 8:05 AM EDT via mobile up reply actions

no body touched the ball though... funny how that works

by white angus on Jun 29, 2011 8:16 AM EDT up reply actions

if no one touches it

its a hit

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 Lloyd, Andy Russell, Cris Carter, Kevin Greene, Curtis Martin, Willie Roaf, Andre Reed and Jerry Kramer
Remember that long road once more, then kiss it...kiss it goodbye
Canal Street Chronicles resident Steelers Fan

by WVPiratesfan on Jun 29, 2011 11:07 AM EDT up reply actions

Honestly, most triples should

Maybe 1 in 4 that I see is legit. Here’s another triple* from yesterday (starring Nyjer Morgan)
http://newyork.yankees.mlb.com/video/play.jsp?content_id=16358425&c_id=nyy&topic_id=

by ElDuce on Jun 29, 2011 11:29 AM EDT up reply actions

I was there in Yankee Stadium (shudder) and laughed out loud at Nyjer’s “defense”. More outfield hijinks from Morgan…

by bruinbowler on Jun 29, 2011 2:28 PM EDT up reply actions

That's one...

of many reasons that Morgan isn’t playing fulltime. He basically isn’t playing at all vs LHP (only 20 PA), never walks (4 in 134 PA), isn’t a good baserunner (not a surprise to Pirates fans), and isn’t as strong defensively as his reputation suggests.

by Thunder on Jun 29, 2011 4:13 PM EDT up reply actions

i agree, even though UZR has always liked him, including this year

yep, another reason why UZR stinks, sayeth old angus

by white angus on Jun 29, 2011 10:42 PM EDT up reply actions

you stink

#AllTheBuntsAreBad!

by Slick1 on Jun 30, 2011 9:31 AM EDT up reply actions

how UZR was created

by white angus on Jun 30, 2011 10:27 AM EDT up reply actions

I would give the game ball to Veras

4 batters faced, 5 outs, 16th hold.

by Central*Scrutinizer on Jun 29, 2011 2:34 AM EDT reply actions

Maybe him and Overbay should share it

by samvescovi on Jun 29, 2011 11:05 AM EDT up reply actions

Veras was

Lucky the ball Lind hit wasn’t a bases clearing double.
Props to him for finding a way to get us out the inning unharmed + a great 8th.

by NOLABUCCO on Jun 29, 2011 2:39 AM EDT reply actions

Great line from Hurdle about the IBB

“You’re going to get a good hitter,” Hurdle said. “I just picked the good hitter after Bautista.”

by JRoth95 on Jun 29, 2011 8:56 AM EDT up reply actions

Same thing for me.

I didn’t even watch the ninth, just knew that if we got that far with the lead the game was ours. We haven’t had a closer I felt that way about since … um …

by bucdaddy on Jun 29, 2011 8:12 AM EDT reply actions

Teke?

maybe not… Hammer is 1 or 2 away from breaking the Pirates streak so it’s probably a good time to start watching.

Yinzers uber alles

by BostonBuc on Jun 29, 2011 8:26 AM EDT up reply actions

Teke, maybe.

Geez, that’s horrible. I thought back past Jose Mesa (GAH!) and Mike Williams (ACK!) and then drew a complete blank as to who we even had closing games.

by bucdaddy on Jun 29, 2011 8:49 AM EDT up reply actions

Remember when Mike Williams was chosen for the all-star game?

Hahahaha!

Good times.

by joepinion on Jun 29, 2011 8:52 AM EDT up reply actions

(I mean in '03.)

I guess he earned it in ’02.

by joepinion on Jun 29, 2011 8:58 AM EDT up reply actions

Bill Landrum? Jim Gott?

by Vlad on Jun 29, 2011 9:47 AM EDT via mobile up reply actions

Think Loiselle might’ve had the job formalized there, too.

God, it’s like trying to remember the drummers from Spinal Tap.

by Vlad on Jun 29, 2011 9:52 AM EDT via mobile up reply actions

don't forget the Caveman

by gonfalon on Jun 29, 2011 11:43 AM EDT up reply actions

i know i'm going to catch flack for this but

stan belinda

by johnnycuff on Jun 29, 2011 10:49 AM EDT up reply actions

So does that end all mentions of Mike Gonzalez

by WVPiratesfan on Jun 29, 2011 11:11 AM EDT up reply actions

Ahh, good call with Gonzo.

Can’t remember the year he took over but he was pretty damn reliable. Didn’t he convert like 26/26?

#AllTheBuntsAreBad!

by Slick1 on Jun 29, 2011 12:30 PM EDT up reply actions

Gonzo was AWESOME that year

always felt bad that his career tanked as quick as it did. Seemed like a good guy.

by Garrett122 on Jun 29, 2011 12:32 PM EDT up reply actions

wasn't the year the All-Star game was in Pittsburgh

by WVPiratesfan on Jun 29, 2011 2:41 PM EDT up reply actions

40 Wins

Last year, the Bucs did not earn their 40th win until August 16!

by SteelStealth on Jun 29, 2011 8:39 AM EDT reply actions 1 recs

Thanks

I was wondering just that.

Also, we’re 2 above .500 on the road and 1 below at home.

by JRoth95 on Jun 29, 2011 8:57 AM EDT up reply actions

I somehow doubt that since we are 2 over .500 overall

by Matt7009 on Jun 29, 2011 9:06 AM EDT up reply actions

3 above .500 on the road

21-18

by dave32 on Jun 29, 2011 9:42 AM EDT up reply actions

Duh

Even as I wrote it it seemed wrong, but I was in a hurry.

That’ll teach me to try to get work done during BucsDugout time.

by JRoth95 on Jun 29, 2011 12:03 PM EDT up reply actions

What boggles my mind:

We’ve had THREE separate 4-game winning streaks.

by joepinion on Jun 29, 2011 9:07 AM EDT up reply actions

(last year, 1 all season)

by joepinion on Jun 29, 2011 9:08 AM EDT up reply actions

a 4 game winning streak

right about now—- would be niiice

by BurgherKing on Jun 29, 2011 9:10 AM EDT up reply actions

Last year it took them 40 games more to get their 40th win at 40-78

by 2013Pirates on Jun 29, 2011 11:26 AM EDT up reply actions

Has anyone else noticed

that d’Arnaud seems to throw everything sidearm?
(Photo from PiratesProspects)
.

Free your ass and your mind will follow.

by cocktailsfor2 on Jun 29, 2011 9:19 AM EDT reply actions

if he were a Cub, he'd be a good left fielder...

:-D

by white angus on Jun 29, 2011 9:29 AM EDT up reply actions

The Cubs wouldn't know a good left fielder...

if he bit their manager in the ass.

by Thunder on Jun 29, 2011 11:28 AM EDT up reply actions

ass biting would probably not be a good trait either

by white angus on Jun 29, 2011 11:57 AM EDT up reply actions

I dunno -

Fonsi’s head is so far up his ass, that may be a doable thing. Desirable, maybe not. But doable.

Free your ass and your mind will follow.

by cocktailsfor2 on Jun 30, 2011 8:12 AM EDT up reply actions

white angus

If he were a Cub, he’d be a good left fielder…

LOL

パトリック

by patthatt on Jun 29, 2011 2:54 PM EDT up reply actions

Thanks for taking the time to answer.

Free your ass and your mind will follow.

by cocktailsfor2 on Jun 29, 2011 12:19 PM EDT up reply actions

Yes sir...

I have noticed. He throws like a middle infielder. They all throw sidearm because it’s a quicker release and you don’t have to reset your body when bending over. I would assume that Chase has been a middle infielder most of his life even though he started at third for Pepperdine his FR and SM years.

#AllTheBuntsAreBad!

by Slick1 on Jun 29, 2011 12:33 PM EDT up reply actions