Results tagged ‘ Andy LaRoche ’

Splitlanta

Well the Pirates battled back this week after dropping the first two games of the 4 game set in heartbreaking fashion. The Pirates defeated the Braves 3-2 on Wednesday night with help from Jeff Karstens, who ironically got the win after relieving Charlie Morton (who had taken his spot in the rotation that day) after a hamstring strain and pitching 4.2 innings giving up only 1 run and eating up crucial innings for the Pirates. The game looked ugly at the beginning after Morton left, but the bullpen combined for 8 innings and 2 earned runs to help win the game for the bucs. Jason Jamarillo had an RBI base hit, and Adam LaRoche drove in 2. The crucial play of the game however was Craig Monroe scoring from 2nd on an infield single. He didn’t hesitate at all and took everyone by surprise and drew an off-line throw to score the third run for the Pirates. Matt Capps would come in with a 3-1 lead, but would give up a home run to Garrett Anderson, but would regain his composure and close the game out for his 14th save of the season. 

Today was much of the same. Paul Maholm started the game and probably had his most dominant outing of the season. He pitched 7 innings, giving up one UNearned run and striking out a season high 8. Correct me if I’m wrong, but I believe 8 strikeouts is a season high for any pitcher on our staff. Again, that could be wrong, but I don’t remember any pitcher having more than that. I bet you this Charlie Morton kid pulls it off though, he has outstanding stuff. Anyways, the Pirates finally hit a home run today, their first since LAST tuesday. Delwyn Young connected for his first home run as a Pirate in the 5th inning. The score was 1-1 going into the 9th. Andrew McCutchen led off the inning with a single and eventually ended up on 3rd base. Adam LaRoche was intentionally walked and then stole second without a throw. This gave Andy the opportunity to drive 2 runs in, which he did, on the 8th pitch of his at bat. The pitch was way off the plate but he reached out and muscled it up the middle for the game winning hit. 
Matt Capps then came on in the 9th, got 2 groundouts and then ended the game by striking out the pinch hitting Brian McCann to notch his 15th save of the season. Capps has been lights out since returning from his injury, in his last 9 appearances, he has 8 saves and a hold, while giving up only 1 run 

The Pirates are now 28-32 and are heading home for a quick 3 game homestand against the Detroit Tigers. Tomorrow the matchup is Ian Snell vs. Rick Porcello. Advantage, Tigers.


LET’S GO BUCS!!!
p.s. Due to lateness and the fact that I won’t be on a computer all day tomorrow or Saturday, I am canceling this week’s FRIDAY PICK ‘EM. The contest will be back in full force and worth DOUBLE next week, so make sure you make your picks. Sorry for any disappointment. 

SUCK

Ah, finally, the Pirates are beating the Brewers. Right now the game is in the 8th, so it’s not over yet, and Paul Maholm just got lifted. Paul went 7.1 innings, giving up only 1 run on 6 hits and walking only one, just another great start from Paul. I’m sure that took the bad taste from his last start (in Milwaukee) away. Surprisingly, the Pirates scored 3 runs off of Yovani Gallardo tonight. Two of these runs put a big smile on my face, because they came from the bats of Andy LaRoche and Brandon Moss. Moss tripled in the 2nd to score one, and Andy LaRoche (finally) hit a home run in the 4th to put the Pirates on top 2-1. Nate McLouth then added the 3rd run on a base hit after a Freddy Sanchez double. 

Now Tyler Yates has entered the ball game, he’s just being asked to get 2 outs and strand the inherited runner on second, then Capps will come in and (hopefully) redeem himself for Saturday’s performance and end this game and get us back over .500. Yates really makes me nervous… 
Anyway, in other league-news, Matt LaPorta hit his first home run of his career for the Indians just a couple minutes ago. That guy can rake. He went 0-4 in his debut, but right now is 1-3 with a big 2 run homer. I’m sure Cleveland fans are ecstatic about that. Love me some LaPorta.
Also, my boy Zack Greinke is on the hill today, and so far he is through 3 scoreless, and his team is up 3-0 and threatening. It’s always good to see your fantasy ace getting a lot of run support. 
Let’s just hope Yates can do his job and the Pirates can win this game and end their streak against the much-hated Brewers. Let’s go bucs! 
—edit—
and wouldn’t you know it, the bullpen comes in and wastes no time in blowing the lead and possibly the game. Yates gets one out before Grabow comes on, gives up a single to Fielder, then walks the next batter. Then Ryan Braun comes in (whom I HATE) and bloops a single into right field to score 2 and tie the game. I mean wow, you can’t get any luckier than that. He hits a ball off the end of the bat that hangs in the air forever then drops in in front of the slowest Pirate there is, Brandon Moss. I hate these Brewers SO MUCH. 
–edit–
I am so pissed. Screw the Brewers, screw John Grabow, screw Matt Capps. Way to go bullpen, I hate you. This is a game that we should easily win with a dominant performance from Maholm and enough offense to win the game on a night we didn’t think we’d get it. Screw this. I’m so sick of hearing “you’re not used to seeing this from Capps” from Greg Brown, because I’m starting to actually get used to it. He’s not good, he has never been anything special, they treat him like he’s an elite closer here, but he’s been nothing but awful when the Pirates need him most. Let Evan Meek pitch the 9th for Gods sake I can’t take another loss like this. 

Sweeeeeeeeeeeeep!!

The Pirates defeated the Marlins for the third consecutive time today, winning the game 7-3. It was another close, well played and hard fought game for the bucs. Let’s wrap up this homestand and head on to the offday tomorrow where we will look forward to our 6 game road trip!

  • Paul Maholm pitched today and got his 3rd consecutive win. This was no doubt his least effective start of the year, but he still pitched very well. He gave up 4 runs in 6 innings while striking out 4 and walking only 1. It shows that Paul Maholm isn’t perfect and could possibly lose a couple of games this year, but the offense didn’t let it happen today.
  • The offense hit the ball all through the game, scoring in 5 of their 8 offensive innings. Adam LaRoche led the offense today with 4 hits (one gift), 2 runs and 1 RBI. Before this week LaRoche’s performance was a very pleasant surprise, but after the Doumit injury, I’d say that it is now a vital occurrence.
  • Andy LaRoche had a clutch RBI double in the 5th after Brandon Moss was intentionally walked for the 2nd time in the game. The Marlins obviously didn’t find LaRoche as much of a threat today, and although he struck out with the bases loaded in the first, he made them pay in the 5th. I guess the Marlins haven’t noticed how awful Brandon Moss has been at the plate lately. Oh well, our gain.
  • Nyjer Morgan created a run of his own as well today. He singled in Delwyn Young, who collected his first hit as a bucco in the form of a 1 out double, and Nyjer then went on to steal third base and score on an overthrow by (former Pirate) Ronny Paulino. I guess it wasn’t that terrible of a throw, so some blame should go to Emilio Bonifacio as well. Nyjer’s play has been consistently terrific, let’s hope he can keep that up.
  • The bullpen also did more great work today, giving up no runs in 3 innings of work. Jesse Chavez and Sean Burnett combined for one of those innings of work, setting down their hitters 1-2-3. John Grabow was excellent, striking out the side in the 8th, and Matt Capps finished the game up with his 5th successful save conversion. He is a perfect 5/5 in save opportunities this year. It’s really uplifting to see the bullpen pitching well right along with their starting rotation.

Well the Pirates are done with their first homestand of the year, a stretch in which they went 6-3. their record is now at a beautiful 9-6 record and if the Cubs and Cardinals lose tonight, the Pirates could be tied for the division lead. I’m expecting to see more Pirates on Baseball Tonight!

Tomorrow is an offday, but I’ll think of something to make a post for :)

Pick ‘Em Friday contestants, get your picks in! I’ll post mine tomorrow.

Game 3 @ Cardinals : Pregame

Alright well the Pirates are now 1-1 after an absolutely terrible performance yesterday. Let’s hope Zach Duke has better luck than Ian Snell did last night, of course that won’t take much. Here are tonight’s lineups:

Pirates lineup:

  1. Nyjer Morgan (LF)
  2. Freddy Sanchez (2B)
  3. Nate McLouth (CF)
  4. Ryan Doumit (C)
  5. Adam LaRoche (1B)
  6. Brandon Moss (RF)
  7. Ramon Vazquez (3B)
  8. Jack Wilson (SS)
  9. Zach Duke (LHP)

Cardinals lineup:

  1. Colby Rasmus (LF)
  2. Khalil Greene (SS)
  3. Albert Pujols (1B)
  4. Ryan Ludwick (RF)
  5. Yadier Molina (C)
  6. Rick Ankiel (CF)
  7. David Freese (3B)
  8. Todd Wellemeyer (RHP)
  9. Brendan Ryan (2B) 
Not gonna lie, copied and pasted those straight from Jennifer Langosch’s blog, so check that out. Andy LaRoche has been benched tonight after committing 3 errors in 2 games and not collecting a hit. This should definitely benefit the Pirates defensively and probably offensively as well. Vasquez isn’t a great hitter, but anybody is better than Andy LaRoche. Don’t get me wrong, I definitely don’t think the Pirates should give up on him anytime soon, but it’ll do him nothing but good to sit out a night and … think about what he’s done. Let’s Go Bucs!!

Another One!

The Pirates are cruising. The pitching is making it look easy, and the hitters are doing enough to win the game. Too bad I’m making this post in March and not April or May. Let’s stay focused on the positives here though, it makes me feel better. 

The Pirates defeated the Twins 2-1 today. Tom Gorzelanny made his 2nd start and gave up a run in 2 innings of work. After that first inning, the pitching (featuring Bootcheck, Burnett, Yates, Hansen, Mateo, and a resurgent Evan Meek) shut the Twins down, surrendering only 3 hits, and none in the 7th, 8th, and 9th innings. Andy LaRoche provided the Pirate’s offense today with a 2 run blast in the 5th inning that drove in Brandon Moss. Good to see those two playing well this spring. 
Tomorrow the Pirates will go for their 8th (even though yesterdays game against the Netherlands doesn’t really count, but none of these games do so we’ll just count it anyways) win, and their 6th in a row. The Bucs take on the Reds for the 2nd time this spring, with Paul Maholm lined up to the toe the rubber. 
In other news, my Brandon Webb shirt was a hit today. Although the non-baseball fans couldn’t understand that it said “d backs”, they kept asking me who the “obags” were… like whatever. 
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