|
Welcome:
Login to StatFox |
Register |
Login to FoxSheets
|
The Leading Logic In Sports Handicapping |
|
          |
|
|
|
|
 |
ST. LOUIS (Ticker) -- Ronny Paulino delivered an RBI single in
the 10th inning and Adam LaRoche added a three-run double later
in the frame to lift the Pittsburgh Pirates to an 8-4 victory
over the St. Louis Cardinals on Tuesday in the opener of a
three-game series.
Paulino also had a run-scoring double in the seventh inning and
Nate McLouth blasted his 10th home run of the season for the
Pirates, who have won seven of their last eight contests.
With the score tied at 4-4, Freddy Sanchez drew a walk to led of
the 10th and McLouth sacrificed him to second before Jason Bay
was intentionally walked.
Paulino, who replaced an injured Ryan Doumit earlier in the
contest, then belted a 1-1 offering from Ron Villone into center
field to drive in the go-ahead run.
"He's taken advantage of his opportunities when he's gotten to
play," manager John Russell said of Paulino. "I think as a
tribute to him, he's been working out and even without getting a
lot of playing time. He's been ready. He came up big for us
tonight, so that's nice to see."
After Xavier Nady walked to load the bases, LaRoche lined a
double into the left-center field gap to extend Pittsburgh's
advantage to 8-4.
Paulino and LaRoche helped make a winner out of Marino Salas
(1-0), who was making his major league debut.
"It was kind of a welcome to the big leagues," Russell said of
Salas recording a win in his first day in the majors.
Salas, who spent 10 years in the minors, got into trouble in the
ninth when he walked the bases loaded but he got Ryan Ludwick
to pop out to end the threat and force extra innings.
"I got the exact pitch I was looking for," Ludwick said. "The
ball was right down the middle of the plate. You couldn't ask
for a better pitch. I just didn't stay on top of it. Hit it
straight up in the air. I just didn't get it done this time."
"I like that situation," Salas said. "I want to go."
Pirates closer Matt Capps pitched a perfect 10th frame in a
non-save situation to secure the win.
Albert Pujols tied the game at 4-4 with a solo home run in the
seventh and Troy Glaus had a three-run shot in the sixth for the
Cardinals, who have lost three straight contests and six of
their last seven games.
McLouth gave Pittsburgh a 2-0 edge in the fourth with a two-run
blast off Cardinals starter Kyle Lohse. Glaus' three-run home
run in the sixth gave St. Louis a 3-2 advantage, but Pittsburgh
rallied for two runs in the seventh to retake the lead.
After Bay led off the frame with a double, Paulino belted an RBI
double to deep right field to tie the game at 3-3. Jose
Bautista added a run-scoring single later in the inning to give
the Pirates the lead.
Pittsburgh starter Phil Dumatrait yielded three runs on four
hits and three walks with four strikeouts over six frames. Lohse
lasted seven innings, allowing four runs and five hits with
four strikeouts.
"Outside of that one pitch (to Glaus), I felt like I really kept
them off-balance out there," Dumatrait said. "I looked at some
tape after my last outing, and I saw I was getting tired and
leaving some pitches up in the fourth and fifth. Tonight, I
made one mistake, but I still felt strong. I never tired."
|
|
| |
|
|