Neil Walkers Bobblehead Pre-Party Helps Pirates Rock Tigers

The Pittsburgh Pirates Neil Walker

had a big night in his hometown as the Bucs rolled the Detroit Tigers 10-1.

What doesn’t Walker do? He hits. He is fielding well.  And just looks locked in as a player on the rise in MLB.

The Pirates broke loose last night in front of 24,000 fans who broke out the wave at PNC Park.  What the hell, right?  Walker’s hot hitting has made talk about bar-gate fade away.

It’s great fun to watch isn’t it?

Walker has eleven hits in his past ten games including two bombs and has shown patience with five walks. Last night he drove in five runs with two outs. Not enough pressure for you? He hit a three-run bomb after putting himself in an 0-2 count too.

"“He has a flare for the dramatic.” Clint Hurdle said after the game."

Last night Jeff Karstens was dramatic too.  The right hander was flawless until an Andy Dirks flare with two away in the fifth inning. When Karstens came out for the sixth he looked a little spent. The California kid went six innings and allowed three hits including a homerun which tied the game at one.

No worries, the Pirates offense had his back, Lyle Overbay absolutely crush a bomb to the deepest park of PNC Park off Detroit starter Brad Penny in the Bucs big sixth inning.

Matt Diaz kept it going as he pinch-hit for Karstens after Brandon Wood walked and Ronny Cedeno singled. It was a ho-hum, shoulda been a double play RBI groundout if Cedeno doesn’t slide hard into second.  The slide caused Ramon Santiago to throw like shit to first and the Bucs had created some luck.

It’s the detail that kept alive a six-run sixth inning.

The Pirates kept the pressure on the Tigers with Diaz and Andrew McCutchen working a double steal.  Yes.  It was true.  It was the Pirates night.

Garrett Jones ripped a double that made Karstens smile and Neil Walker made that smile wider with another double which staked Karstens to another victory.  And another turn in the rotation.

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