The news was mostly bad. There was a little good news. But it doesn’t temper the clobbering that the Pirates took. Omar Infante homered twice and knocked five runs. Logan Morrison had four hits and drove in three. Ross Ohlendorf was ineffective.
Infante drove in a run in the first with a solo homer. He drove in another the following inning with a double.
Pedro Ciriaco singled with two outs in the bottom of the second off Ricky Nolasco to make it 2-1. And then the deluge.
Ohlendorf gave up hits to the first four batters in the third, allowing two runs to score. He was yanked in favor of Daniel McCutchen. He didn’t fair much better. He allowed both inherited runners to score and also gave up a three run bomb to Infanted that bounced off the glove of Alex Presley and over the wall. Aaron Thompson would come out of the bullpen later to surrender a two run jack to Morrison. Florida sent 14 men to the plate in putting up a nine spot that effectively ended it.
Presley, Derrek Lee and Ciriaco would contribute RBI hits later in the game. It was far too little and far too late.
Ohlendorf was charged with six runs in two plus. He walked none but gave up ten hits. Nolasco was the winner with six innings of three run ball. He walked none and gave up nine knocks. He whiffed five.
The Good
Presley, Ryan Doumit and Ciriaco each had two hits.
Onto the good news – Evan Meek made his first appearance in three months and tossed one scoreless inning.
The offense picked up 13 hits.
Bucco hurlers walked just one.
The Bad
Ohlendorf, McCutchen and Thompson were all gouged.
The Rest
Ohlendorf racked up a 1-2 mark in three previous career starts against Florida. In spite of an ERA below 2.00, Nolasco’s mark against the Buccos was only 4-3 coming into this game.
22 hits allowed by Pirate pitching represents a season worst. This is the most hits the pitching staff allowed since giving up 25 hits and 20 runs to Milwaukee On 4/22/10.
Florida had not collected 22 hits since 2008. Their previous season best for hits was 16.
This is the sixth time in his career and second time in 2011 that Infante went yard two times in one game. The five RBI mark a career best.
The four hits are a career best for Morrison.
Pedro Alvarez tripled and scored. It was his first hit since August 8th.
Oops, McDonald has not been shut down yet.
Meek showed me why he probably should be let go, he has arm problems IMO, he once was a 95-96 gas type pitcher, now he can barely get 91 and pitches mostly in the high 80’s. I am glad they pitched him, I had not heard anywhere about how hard he was throwing during rehab.
The Pirates probably have the worst luck of any team in the majors, all 5 starters have been shut down sometime during the month of Sept, never saw that before.
NEAL: GET A SETUP GUY FOR NEXT YEAR SOMEWHERE!
It would be a nice bonus if Ciriaco actually hits for average or better to go along with his D-fence. Could put a little spin on what happens at spring training next year…
Why is Ohlendorf still on the team?
Getting 22 hits probably had more to do with having only 1 walk than Pirate effective pitching. Not quibling, just a view.