Pirates 4, Tigers 1: Photo Recap of How Pittsburgh Pirates Won Series

The Pittsburgh Pirates win ballgames in interesting ways. The Bucs win important games in really simple ways, too. In fact, the team has won eight of their last nine series. Eight of nine!

The Pirates plan had plenty of interesting moments yesterday: Who really thought Brad Lincoln would flirt with a no hitter against the Detroit Tigers?

The Pirates win was also as simple… as it usually is. Get on base, and Cutch drives you in.

Simple. Effective. Pittsburgh Pirates.

Anatomy of a win:

Scrappy leadoff hitter does what scrappy leadoff hitters are paid to do….

Presley turned a single into a hustling, stand-up double.

What follows was a #Hurdled plan fail.

Sorta.

Max Scherzer came inside and hit Jose Tabata.

Up stepped Andrew McCutchen, who – if you read yesterday’s post (and we’re sure you did) – loves hitting when it’s a full count and with teammates on base.

It all came together beautifully.

Gone.

Jose Tabata was having such a good time on the basepaths that Cutch nearly lapped him. As the two neared home plate, Tabata sped up, touched home and turned to congratulate the Bucs offensive machine.

Brad Lincoln had seven strikeouts, and actually was working on a no-hitter for a while. We wrote on twitter that we were closing our eyes in the sixth inning before Lincoln was to face the three-four-five hitters of the Tigers lineup.

A leadoff bomb was enough for Hurdle. The Bucs manager pulled the right hander. We stood and applauded. That’s the best you are going to get from Lincoln. He was masterful. Allow him to soak in the fact that he gave up just that one run. Allow him to soak in a one walk, seven seven strikeouts outing in which he fired 79 pitches, with 60 going for strikes.

The Pirates bullpen did the rest.

We were amazed that Lincoln didn’t get hit. His fastball was just so damn straight. But, heh, when it touches 94 and he puts it in great locations, it’s a great sight to see Prince Fielder doing this at PNC Park….

Joel Hanrahan put a couple Tigers on base in the ninth to make it interesting, but after a swing and a miss, Rod Barajas picked the ball up, tagged the Tigers catcher, and the Jolly Roger was raised again on yet another series win for the Buccos.

Damn, this is getting fun to watch.