Craig Monroe got the start in right today and drove in six runs. He did that by clouting a pair of three run homers. The first came off of Braves starter Jo-Jo Reyes and blew open a 2-0 game. The second came two innings later off of Buddy Carlyle.
Monroe’s outburst came in support of Ian Snell who didn’t need much. He went seven innings and allowed three walks, three singles and a double while preventing any Atlanta runs from scoring.
Ryan Doumit had three doubles and scored three times. Andy LaRoche had three hits – including two doubles – as the Pirates piled up nine extra base hits.
The Good
Monroe’s effort was the first six RBI effort by a Pirate hitter since Jose Castillo on 5/30/06.
LaRoche’s three hit effort was the third of his career.
Snell gets in the win column. He won twice in April in 2008 and then just once more before the All-Star break.
Thanks to three double plays, the Pirates only faced four over the minimum in a very quick (2:22) game.
The Bad
Nothing too bad. Nyjer Morgan is now hitless in his last two games.
The Rest
The Bucs have shut out the Braves two straight games, matching what Atlanta did to the Pirates in Game 6 and Game 7 of the 1991 NLCS. I won’t count that as being a payback in full.
Chipper Jones was out with a thumb injury.
This was Jo-Jo Reyes’ debut against Pittsburgh and his first appearance of 2009.
