Same Old Situation: Pirates Lose; Pedro Goes Deep for Team USA

The Pittsburgh Pirates had a great start to the game against division foe Cincinnatti when rookie Andrew McCutchen drilled his 12th homer of the year, his fourth lead off homer, into the left field seats. 

The lead and the mood seemed to be changing for the New Bucs.

However, with one failed double play, the lead and the mood changed as the Reds chased five runs across in the fifth inning and never looked back.  It shouldn’t have happened.  A double play ball was made into an error by the Pirates and all of the Reds five runs followed that play.

Cutch looked pissed off last night after the Pirates frustrating loss.  McCutchen had a similar look on his face in the eighth inning when he was looking for a pitch to hit with teammates Brandon Moss, Lastings Milledge, and Steve Pearce on base and the Pirates trailing 9-3. 

We will make the assumption he wanted to kill the ball because Brian Bixler was on deck.  Cutch walked to earn his 52nd RBI and let teammate Bixler do what he has done so well at the major league level.  Strike out.

Bixler did just that and really has shown little to make us believe he has the confidence to hit major league pitching.  Well, it was a rookie call-up on the mound, but hell.  Bixler has 24 strikeouts in 39 at-bats.  Unreal.

On two occassions in the game, the Reds sent nine men to the plate as they built an 8-3 lead by the 7th inning.

Cutch had a golden opportunity in the sixth inning with the Pirates only trailing 5-3 at the time.  Milledge had doubled, Walker singled and Robinzon Diaz had an RBI double, setting the table for Cutch with Diaz on second and Walker on third with two outs. 

No such luck.  As the best Pirates hitter with RISP couldn’t get it done.  McCutchen grounded out to third.

The Pirates gave at least six extra outs to the Reds with porus defense by the following offenders:  Neil Walker, Ryan Doumit, Garrett Jones, Ronny Cedeno (twice), and Delwyn Young.    Pirate defenders Lastings Milledge and Brandon Moss had outstanding plays in the game.

Jones and Milledge had three hits in the game.  The Pirates had 14 hits in the game, but very few were timely.

The Pirates are 12-35 since August 1st.  The 3-21 streak we are in now is the worst since 1890 the PG reports.

Delwyn Young is 4-for his last 52.  What the hell?

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Pedro Alvarez hit another homer into the right field seats.

Brad Lincoln (2-0) pitched well again his ERA in three starts is 1.89.  Team USA is in the medal round this weekend after they avenged their only defeat of the tournament to Venezuela with a 6-3 victory today.

Team USA recap is here

Heh, the Crue said it best, It’s the Same Old Situation, I tell you boys, you just gotta laugh.

Keep on eye on Lawrence Timmon’s blog for updates this week.  [LT Blog]

Steelers skating on thin ice?  [Post Game Heroes Podcast]

On Mark Madden’s show today, Tim Benz said Deshea is getting some looks at safety.

On the LT topic, Blitzburgh states LT needs to step up [Behind Steel Curtain]

The Jay Leno show is dying.  Man it felt good typing that. The Leno Show is awful and it is also costing many jobs in the marketplace.  Pound this link just for the pictures of Playmate Jessica… [What Would Tyler Durden Do]