Battlin' Buccos Win 3rd Straight With Late Rally

So it wasn't as dramatic as Starling Marte's lead off HR, but it was another win that seemed to cement the idea that this team isn't just going to go away.  In a game where Jeff Karstens didn't have his best stuff, and was hit around the park before being dismissed from his duties, the Pirates looked like they were going to let another very winnable game get away from them.  However, this isn't the 2011 Pittsburgh Pirates.  Down 4-1, the Pirates battled their way back to a 5-4 defecit behind a very hot Michael McKenry who went 3-4 on the night.  In the 9th inning the Astros loaded the bases with 1 out, and the young buc Starling Marte sent a sac fly to CF to tie the game.  With the runners advancing to 2nd and 3rd with 2 outs, the next pitch was a wild pitch that got away from the Astros catcher allowing the go ahead run (Drew Sutton) to score.  Closer Joel Hanrahan closed out the game for yet another save on the season.  This save moves him to 31 saves on the season, and after 99 games the Pirates move to 57-42 and 2 games out of first after first place behind the Cincinnati Reds. 

As you know, I often have criticism of the team, and today is no different.  My big question (and as a former catcher I seem to watch this position more than most) is why Michael McHenry isn't getting more starts behind the plate.  He has only 42 starts on the season compared to Rob Barajas' 68, but McKenry has hit 9 HRs in only 42 starts compared to Barajas' 8 in 68 starts.  I would understand if McKenry was a Mike Piazza look like, and by that I mean a horrible fielding catcher, but his nickname is "the Fort" for a reason...he never lets anything behind him.  Barajas has experience, and more known power than McKenry, but at the same time I feel McKenry has earned more consecutive starts in the second half, like Barajas has gotten in the first half.  He has decent speed for a catcher, and has shown to have some pop in his bat in his limited ABs this year.  Neither catcher can throw out a runner to save their own lives, so that really doesn't play into the debate.  Again, I'm not saying McKenry takes over for Barajas, but that he deserves more starts.  Hopefully Hurdle will listen as the Pirates look to move their winning streak from 3 to 4 games tonight in Houston.