Jeff Karstens pitched the shortest outing of the year for a Pirates starter, which lasted only one inning. Karstens was yanked to due a right shoulder inflammtion and is expected to be evaluated more closely sometime this week. Karstens allowed two runs on two hits in his only inning on the mound. Jared Hughes took over and let up a run on three hits, while throwing 2.2 innings. Tony Watson played a huge roll in the pitching today. He pitched 2.1 perfect innings and looked fantastic on the hill. Evan Meek threw a perfect seventh inning and Jason Grilli allowed a solo home run to John McDonald to tie the game in the bottom of the eighth. After regaining the lead in the ninth, everyone expected to see Joel Hanrahan, but Clint Hurdle elected to go to Juan Cruz who closed the game out with a 1-2-3 inning. Cruz picked up his first save since May of 2009. Root Sports said after the game that Hanrahan has a tweaked hamstring. More news on that coming tomorrow.
The offense really came alive for the Bucs tonight. They got thirteen hits and ten of those hits belonged to Andrew McCutchen, Neil Walker, and Garrett Jones. McCutchen had four hits including the game winning RBI single in the top of the ninth scoring Alex Presley. Jones had a great day at the plate, reaching base all four times, picking up three hits, with a solo home run, to go along with three RBIs. Pedro Alvarez was hitless, but came feet away from hitting his second home run of the season. He was robbed by Chris Young, who made an unbelievable play in the left-center gap, a play that Young injured himself and had to be removed from the game. The top of the ninth started with two quick outs but Presley got an infield single, was followed up by a Casey McGehee single, and that's where McCutchen picked up the hit of the night.
It was one of the more exciting games of the season and definitely the most exciting one of this road trip. We are yet to know why Clint Hurdle decided to go with Juan Cruz over Joel Hanrahan but it worked out either way. The rubber match is tomorrow at 3:40 PM.