McDonald Strong, Bullpen Fails, Astros Rally to Beat Pirates

The Pittsburgh Pirates fans

have been getting a taste of what New York Mets fans felt last year. Ryota Igarashi can throw hard. He has swing and miss stuff. He also is about as frustrating a pitcher as there is to watch.

But anyway, the big story was James McDonald. JMac held the Astros hitless for 5 1/3 innings. McDonald pitched seven strong innings and left the game with a one run lead. Neil Walker ripped a two out single in the first inning to score Alex Presley and Josh Harrison.

Garret Jones made it 4-1 with a two run shot in the eighth, but Igarashi walked the first two batters he faced in the ninth. He then served up a Scott Moore gopher ball to tie the game.

Danny Moskos got the Bucs out of the inning. An error by Josh ‘blast from the past’ Rodriguez in the tenth ruined the game for the Pirates after the reserves failed to muster any offense setting the final score at 5-4.

JMac struck out three and walked none in his longest outing of the spring.