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MONDAY, APRIL 13, 2009
Pittsburgh Wins Wild One in H-Town
Walks & Balks Galore Send Pirates Home Happy
HOUSTON, TX -- With only 1 win on the season the Pittsburgh Pirates might have been a little down on themselves. And there ain't nothing that can bring you back up out of the dumps like a wild and crazy win.
It was Jeff Karstens on the mound for Pittsburgh and Mike Hampton for Houston on this seemingly average Monday. Things were going smooth for Pittsburgh with a 3-0 lead in the top of the 8th and Karstens looking to go the distance. However, Michael Bourn hit a 2-run single to bring the Astros back. After a Bourn stolen base, his 5th on the season, Pirates manager John Russell pulled the plug on Karstens and sent in reliever John Grabow. Grabow immediately gave up a 2-run homer to give Houston a 4-3 lead. That is when things got strange.
This is how things went in the bottom of the 8th for Pittsburgh. Nate McLouth - fly out, Adam LaRoche - walk, Eric Hinske - walk, Craig Monroe - Walk, Geoff Geary - balk, Jack Wilson - walk, Jason Jaramillo - ground out, Ryan Doumit - base clearing double. All of a sudden Pittsburgh was up 7-4. They brought in Matt Capps for the save.
"Sometimes you just get lucky," said Pirates 1B Adam LaRoche about getting balked in for the tying run. "It's like Jimmy [Bacon] said, with a bit of luck we can turn things around. Well that's not exactly what he said, but you catch my drift."
Maybe LaRoche and Bacon are right. The Pirates will need a lot of luck to get out of this series without a scratch though. The Astros send Valerio de los Santos and Roy Oswalt to the mound in the next two games. The two starters are a combined 2-1 with a 1.71 ERA in three starts this season.
MLB Notes
... ATL SP Derek Lowe will have to wait to make an impact for the Braves, he will miss the entire season and more after rupturing his ulnar collateral ligament. ... DET 1B Miguel Cabrera (12 for 22, 2 HR, 8 RBI) was named AL POTW. ... STL 1B Albert Pujols (11 for 25, 4 HR, 12 RBI) was named NL POTW. ... STL C Yadier Molina went 5 for 6 against ARI in a 7-4 win today. ...
Pirates Notes
6th in NL Central | (2-6) | 3 GB
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