Mark Buerhle continued my misery. I mean the Pirates misery. Buerhle allowed just two runs in 6-1/3 IP and Ross Ohlendorf remains winless on the year.
Chicago scraped together a handful of runs early on a pair of sacrifice flies and Carlos Quentin’s RBI double. The Pirates couldn’t get to Buehrle until Neil Walker’s second career homer – a solo shot – in the sixth. Chicago quickly padded their margin in the top of the seventh. Pesky Gordon Beckham doubled and moved to third on a sac bunt from Buerhle. Juan Pierre followed with a triple, sending Ohlendorf to the showers. Joel Hanrahan allowed an RBI single to Omar Vizquel, pushing the lead to 5-1.
After giving up a one out dobule to Andy LaRoche in the 8th, Buerhle was pulled for Sergio Santos. He immediately got into more trouble. He walked Jose Tabata and gave up an single to Neil Walker to load the bases. Andrew McCutchen singled in a run and Santos was gone in favor of Matt Thornton. Garrett Jones lofted a sac fly, putting the score at 5-3 with two gone. Lastings Milledge had a clutch two out, RBI single. But Pedro Alvarez struck out ending the threat.
Bobby Jenks retired the side in order (with help from Juan Pierre with a diving catch off a blooper from Delwyn Young) in the 9th to end the game. Buerhle allowed six hits and struck out six. Ohlendorf allowed five runs on nine hits. He walked none and struck out four.
The Good
Walker continues to hit with authority.
Pitching staff walked none and the bullpen tossed 2-1/3 innings of scoreless baseball
The Bad
The losing.
Alvarez whiffed three times, hit into a double play and left five on base.
The Rest
Paul Maholm will try his hand at ending the losing streak against the Tribe.
Ohlendorf last won on on 8/18/09.
Buehrle is now 4-0 against Pittsburgh in five career starts. He has never allowed more than two runs against the Bucs in any of those starts.
Andy LaRoche has nine XBH on the year. In fewer than half the number of at bats, Walker has eight.
This was the fourth time in 2010 that the Pirates pitching staff didn’t allow a walk. Last time was June 4. Coming into the game, Buc pitchers were 13th in the league in walks allowed.
The offense has scored six or more runs just once in June.
Evan Meek has gone 10-2/3 innings without allowing an earned run.
