Not that I expect this team to win a bunch down the back stretch. Not that I expect this team to hold the opponents to goose eggs. But it would be nice to see all the runs scored off the starter.
Paul Maholm wasn’t sharp. But the Pirates were able to get to Chris Carpenter as much as St. Louis got the Pirates hurler. A lot of the damage was done early on. Matt Holliday bashed a two run homer in the first. The Pirates evened it with solo homers from Garrett Jones and Ryan Doumit in their half of the first. Then they edged ahead. A pair of doubles and a single netted two runs in the third. But Carpenter settled down. After giving up seven hits in the first three innings, Carpenter and Ryan Franklin would combine to allow just two more knocks the rest of the way.
St. Louis came back with a solo homer from Mark DeRosa in the fourth. Khalil Greene delivered a two out pinch hit RBI double in the 7th to tie the score.
Enter Jose Ascanio, making his Pirates debut in the 8th inning. Holliday singled, stole second advanced to third on an error on the throw and scored on a sac fly from Ryan Ludwick for the go ahead run. Ascanio would allow another run – also on a sac fly – in the 9th.
Carpenter went 8 and allowed four runs. He struck out four. Franklin pitched a perfect ninth. Maholm went seven and gave up four runs to get a no decision.
The Good
Per reader request, Andrew McCutchen, despite an 0-5.
Doumit doubled and homered. Jones cracked his 12th homer of the year.
The Bad
Six straight losses.
St. Louis will be in town all weekend.
The Rest
I’m heading to Pittsburgh tomorrow for my annual weekend of games with my brother. I’ll be sure to get a scorecard so that I recognize all the new dudes.
Albert Pujols has a hit in 9 of 10 games against the Pirates in 2009.
Carpenter is now 11-1 in his career against Pittsburgh. That’s the most wins he has against any single club.
