Nick Blackburn tossed his first complete game and was thisclose to his first career shutout. He limited the Pirates to six hits and a run. Zach Duke gave up three runs in six innings, but it wasn’t enough.
Michael Cuddyer and Brian Buscher, who came into the game hitting less than .200, both homered to support Blackburn. Andy LaRoche drove in the Pirates only run with a 9th inning single
The Good
Nothing to complain about with Duke.
I got nothing else.
The Bad
Nyjer Morgan lost two balls in the roof and bobbled another.
The Rest
Blackburn had gotten more than 24 outs just one other time in his career.
Bucs drew just one free pass. This was the 15th time all year they drew one or fewer BB.On the flip side, they whiffed just twice – the fourth time all year they totaled 2 or fewer Ks.
Andy LaRoche is in the middle of a 3-25 slump.
