Cardinals Play Big Ball to Beat Pirates

We didn’t expect

Jose Veras to blow it last night.  The big right hander has been mostly unhittable this month.  But the St. Louis Cardinals are beating the Pittsburgh Pirates with big ball.

The eighth inning started as it should for Pirates fans, Veras struckout Albert Pujols.  But then he walked Matt Holliday and Lance Berkman followed with yet another Pirates killing bomb.  It would eventually drop the Pirates to 61-70 on the year.

From the PG video above:

"“It was down, but it was working back to his swing path, he’s had a fantastic year. You talk about some shopping in the offseason, what an acquisition he has been.”"

Gotta love that comment from Hurdle.  We also like his honesty as the Bucs had the bases loaded and instead of cracking the game open, they were swinging at first pitch breaking balls.  But the Pirates did score four times with runners in scoring position and the team has driven in 386 runs in such situations which ranks seventh in the NL.

Yadier Molina’s three-run homer off starter James McDonald was the only big bump on the starters line.  JMac has been consistent down the stretch which is very good to see.  His velocity remained strong and if he could hold runners a bit better, he might have lasted longer in the game Hurdle said.

Andrew McCutchen went 3-for-4.  You gotta shake it to rake it.

Or send balls over the fence to win it.

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