Pirates Unleash Offense to Avoid Padres Sweep at PNC Park



Clint Barmes Celebrates his "Grand Salami"

 The San Diego Padres had won 6 in a row, and the Pirates had lost 3 in a row...something had to give.  After blowing a 6-run lead in Game 1, then only getting 2 hits in Game 2, the Pirates dug themselves another hole being down 5-0 early in the game.  Then they scored a run.  It was at least something to cheer about in PNC Park, but they weren't done there.  They tallied 9 runs in an inning that included a Clint Barmes grand slam (1st of his career).  The inning set up nicely with a walk and a couple base hits, which led to Barmes giving the Pirates a lead with his "grand salami".  It was fitting that Barmes was the one who hit the HR as he was accredited with 2 errors earlier in the game that lead to 2 Padres runs.  Can you say validation? 

Before the big inning, as I was listening to the game, I was getting text messages from family and friends talking about how we were seeing the collapse of this 2012 team in front of our very eyes.  I told them what I wrote in my post yesterday...KEEP THE FAITH.  Most laughed at me, but I smelled a big inning after the Padres pitcher walked the leadoff batter.  As a former catcher you know that leadoff walks are never a good thing.  Next thing you know the bases are juiced for Barmes.  I was hoping to just get a base hit to drive in 2, but next thing you know I was hearing Blass and Brown going crazy over the radio waves as Steve Blass said that "the Pirates have gone poll dancing", referring to the HR hitting the foul pole.  That was only the beginning as the Pirates batted through their lineup and eventually sealed the deal with an 11-5 victory.

If yesterday's game was played a year ago, the Pirates would have folded and probably left the field losing 5-1 and would have been swept by the lowly Padres, but this 2012 team is different.  Almost all of their hitters (Excluding the Pitcher) have the ability to send the ball out of the yard, and when you have that you have a chance to come back in any game.  The biggest difference from the Pirates the last few games has been the fact that they've actually been getting batters on base.  Those doubles are driving in runs, instead of leaving men left on base.  The pitching DOES need to improve though.  Yesterday marked the 3rd straight game that the Pirates have given up a HR in the 1st inning, and the 4th where they have allowed at least one run in the first inning.  I've said it before, and I'll say it again...I'd love to see what this team can do if the hitters aren't constantly put in a hole right off the bat. 

The task at hand doesn't get any easier as the LA Dodgers come cruising into PNC Park for a 4 game home stand starting tonight.  The Pirates have to be looking to win the series, and it will be interesting to see if the momentum of yesterday's victory will spill over into the Dodgers series.  Neil Walker (5-5 yesterday) is as hot a baseball player out there as he continues to bump his batting average up to .300.  All of this and much more should make for a very interesting series...just remember - win or lose...KEEP THE FAITH!  Raise that Jolly Roger tonight!