Pirate Use Bombs, Bats, Bullpen To Beat Brewers 9-5, Raise Record at PNC Park to 29-27

The Pirates had sixteen hits.  The Pirates bullpen held the lead late in the game.  And the Pirates broke out the long balls tonight including Ronny Cedeno‘s two run homer which set the final at Pirates 9 Brewers 5.  It was the third homer the Pirates had hit in the game (Adam LaRoche and Garrett Jones)It had been 53 innings since the Pirates had hit a home run. 

Cedeno’s homerun was his third since coming over in the Wilson Snell deal.  Cedeno has a .441 slugging percentage.  His glove has been solid, but his stick has improved greatly since working with hitting coach Don Long.  Long has Cedeno’s average with the Pirates at .288 in 43 plate appearances.

Carlos Villanueva was on the bump for the Brewers.  All he was missing was the L screen and the batting practice basket of baseballs.  Awful.

The Pirates have an opportunity to deflate the Brewers chances at postseason with a series win.  We received so many emails today about this fact and I applaud all of you for noticing this fact.  How sweet would that be?

Starter Kevin Hart got his first win with the Pirates.  He went six innings and allowed four runs, struck out four and walked two.  Hart allowed three of his four earned runs by the way of gopher balls.  With the lead Hart attacked the zone.  He threw 68 pitches over five innings, but ran into a wall in the sixth when he ran into trouble. 

On Rocco DeMaro’s show, Hart said he is working on the downward movement during his sidework with Coach Joe Kerrigan.  Hart mentioned he overthrew in Colorado and that always has a direct correlation to his arm slot.  Hart mentioned he is really working on his changeup and in a very funny manner said, “my slider didn’t slide tonight.”

Hart had 13 groundball outs and just one fly ball.  Also, one third of his outs were from the double play ball.

The Bullpen:  Only one hit and one run in three innings.

Joel Hanrahan had two more walks last night in his 2/3 innings pitched.  The walks would lead to the fifth Brewer run when Jesse Chavez came in and Prince Fielder, who had homered earlier, ripped a Chavez 97 mph fastball for an RBI single.  Chavez then ended the Brewer inning with a strikeout of Mike Cameron who also homered earlier in the game off Hart.

Jeff Karstens allowed a walk to Charlie Manson Jason Kendall.  That was it.  All zeros the rest of the way including Matt Capps.  Yes, Matt Capps got the Brewers 1-2-3 in the ninth.  NO drama, nothing exciting.

Pirates Record at Home 29-27, Record on the Road 18-43.  Huh?

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Video Highlights are available by clicking here.  Andrew McCutchen’s nice catch in center, Cedeno’s blast, LaRoche’s bomb, and Chavez’s strikeout of Cameron are all shown.

Steve Pearce has an on base percentage of .360.  He continues to get on base.  Pearce only missed reaching base once since his recall.  Pearce made a few nice plays in the field as well.  Thirdboss, I know you’re smiling!

Ohlendorf goes tonight.

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AAA Indy 

Jose Tabata was 2-for-3.  351 average, Jeff Clement was 1-for- 3  two walks.  294 average.  Virgel Vasquez

A West Virginia Power

Starling Marte 3-for5.  325 average, Tony Sanchez batting .360 was 1-for-5, Calvin Anderson had a homer-average 273