Jenks Bleached by Bucs Two-out Rally in the Ninth.

PICTURE:  Getty Images

The Pirates flexed their muscle with three hits and two runs in the ninth inning against Sox closer Bobby Jenks after they banged 12 hits off starter Mark Buehrle.

Jeff Karstens pitched a solid outing keeping the Pirates within striking distance.  He only gave up two runs.  His two seamer was especially effective today.   His curveball was hanging early and he paid for it.

The Pirates came into the game with 27 homers which ranked the Bucs 15th of 16 teams in the NL.  The Pirates showed they can drive it late in the game.  With two outs in the eighth, Eric Hinske was looking to drive the ball for extra bases with a two ball no strike count.  He jacked a ball that was sooooooo out of the park off Sox setup man Octavio Dotel that nobody even moved. It was his first homerun of the year and brought the Pirates within one run. 

With two outs in the ninth Jack Wilson came to the plate.  (It was another brilliant move by JR to allow Jack to hit rather than  pinch hitting with 1B LaRoche or McLouth as Greg Brown begged on the radio broadcast.)  Wilson hit it out of the park to tie the ball game and gave Bobby Jenks (1o-for10 in save opportunities) his first blown save of the season.

JR I had my doubts, but your hunch paid off today.  Nice work.

Jenks has a wild muff buster huh?   Can you believe this guy was picked up off waivers a few years back?  Unreal.  It gives us hope for Steven Jackson right?  Hard to believe Jenks was a high school dropout.  He was ‘discovered.’  Wow, what a story.  I found the links below and if you want to get a few laughs, click on them…Everything from his rural upbringing to his dropping his velocity on purpose.  Interesting stuff … South Side Bronx.     Baseball Reference goes into some fun details.

Nyjer  Morgan’s double after Wilson’s homerun was clutch.  Delwyn Young’s single to plate Morgan was even bigger and gave the Bucs the 4-3 lead. 

Clinging to that one run lead, JR went to closer Matt Capps.  He stormed to the mound like an Army soldier returning from extended time in the field struts into his first shower. He wanted it bad.  He looked laser focused.  His velocity as discussed on Rumbunter last week was intense.  [Capps Velocity May08 vs May09]

Capps pounded the strike zone.  12 of his 15 pitches were strikes and the heat was on…95, 95 95.  Good morning, good afternoon, good night.  Capps struckout the side earning his ninth save of the year.

And a hot shower he so righteously deserved.

Eight hits through four innings by the Pirates.  One run was scored.

Early in the game, baserunning blunders appeared again for the Pirates.  Blunders that are costly when the Pirates team relies on so many singles.  Posednik made a perfect throw to gun Jack Wilson at third  in the second inning.  (The last out of the inning.)  Brandon Moss was caught off first by Alexi the Cuban Missile Ramirez.  God,  is ARAM a great player.

Indy starter Dan McCutchen had zero walks.  He pitched 6.1 innings with  4K’s  and his ERA 3.83

Pedro Alvarez was 0-3 with a walk and two strikeouts.  .234 batting average.