SERIES REVIEW: Pittsburgh Pirates vs Rockies

Mandatory Credit: Charles LeClaire-USA TODAY Sports

Game Two: J.A. Happ (2-1, 2.08ERA) vs. Chris Rusin (4-6, 4.97ERA)

Result: Pirates win 4-3

Winning Pitcher: J.A. Happ (3-1, 1.98ERA)

Losing Pitcher: Chris Rusin (4-7, 4.94ERA

Save: Mark Melancon (43, 1.71ERA)

• What went right:
  • J.A. Happ had another solid start for the Buccos and has been easily the biggest surprise of all the trade deadline acquisitions. He went 5.2 innings, allowed one run on five hits and struck out two.
  • Aramis Ramirez started the game off with a bang as he hit a first inning, three-run home run to jump start the sell out crowd. He went 1-4 on the day with a home run, three RBI and a run scored.
  • Francisco Cervelli reached base three times. He went 0-1 with three walks.
  • Arquimedes Caminero had another fantastic outing. He went 1.1 innings, allowed zero runs on zero hits. His 13^th consecutive scoreless appearance.

• What went wrong:
  • Chris Rusin had a mostly solid outing, outside of the first inning. He kept the Pirates’ hitters fairly uncomfortable as he completed six innings, allowed three runs on give hits and struck out three.
  • Francisco Cervelli and Jung Ho Kang both committed fielding errors.
  • Nick Hundley hit a two-run home run in the ninth inning to make the game much closer than it had to be.
  • Mark Melancon was pretty shaky and never seemed settled in. He allowed two runs on three hits, but luckily the Pirates had a three-run cushion and he was able to earn his 43^rd save of the season.

The Pirates locked up another series victory and moved to 30 games over .500 for the first time since the final day of the 1992 season when they were 96-66. They looked to get the brooms out and complete the sweep of the Rockies with a little Electric Stuff on the mound.

Next: Morton vs. De La Rosa