Finally A Multi-Run Homer!

Boy, it sure does feel good to write this in this being my first post game story. The Pirates were largely thought to have already chalked up another mark in the loss column with Roy Oswalt starting, however things went a lot different then one may think. The Buccos triumphantly won the game 9-0. The second day of the hit parade started when Pedro Alvarez lined a ball almost directly off of the left ankle of Oswalt. This may have led Oswalt to being slightly ineffective. Alvarez did a nice job at the plate after that single as well with another single off lefty Tim Byrdak. Alvarez finished the day 2-5 almost knocking his 4th home run out of the park. Alvarez has brought his average up to .235, may I say he's finally settling in?

Garrett Jones hit a towering 2-run shot out off of Chris Sampson which ended the abysmal 1,097 at bats without a multi-run homer. Ronny Cedeno working with his new batting stance went 4-4 with 3 doubles. I feel like I'm blabbering on but it was a parade of hits with 19 total. Every starter had at least on hit with the exception of Maholm. Lastings had 2, Jose had 3 raising his average to .269 and Doumit went 3-4 with 2 doubles.

There's not much you can say about the performance by lefty starter Paul Maholm today other than outstanding. Maholm may have only had one strike out but that doesn't mean he was ineffective. There's nothing more you can ask from your starting pitcher especially the day after the bullpen has to pitch 7.2 innings. Maholm was able to work quickly and keep his pitch count down at the same time. This was also the first complete game by a Pirates pitcher this season. The win moves Maholm to 6-7 on the year.

The one down side of this game was the injury to Andrew McCutchen on a diving catch in center field. It appears to be a right shoulder injury. Per Jennifer Langosch it appears to only be stiffness in the neck with additional test being performed. The Pirates move to 32-59 on the year and 2-1 since the all-star break.