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Game 154 Recap: Bucs Shutout on Two Hits

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Karstens gave up one run but took the loss.

The Pirates were blanked by Ian Kennedy and J.J. Putz who combined on a two hit shutout. Justin Upton provided the only run of th game with a broken bat solo dinger that was reviewed by the umpiring crew to make sure that a fan hadn’t interfered with Alex Presley on the play. All that activity (and lack thereof from the Pittsburgh offense) was enough to make Jeff Karstens the loser.

Kennedy picked up his 20th win on the year. He gave up just a hit (a two out single to Karstens in the third) and a walk (to Andrew McCutchen with one out in the fourth. He stole second but was stranded) over eight innings. He whiffed the final six Pirates he faced.

Karstens was tough as well. He was pulled after bumping into his pitch count limit after six innings. Upton’s homer came in the lead off spot in the sixth inning and came on a 3-0 pitch.

Pittsburgh’s only other threat came in the ninth when Presley tripled with one out. Neil Walker’s grounder to first froze Presley at third and McCutchen was whiffed by Putz to end the game.

Karstens gave up just the one run on six hits over six innings. He struck out three and walked one. Kennedy’s line was outstanding. Twelve whiffs. One walk. One hit. No runs. Eight innings. Putz earned his 42nd save on the year.

The Good
Karstens. This will apparently be his final start on the year, leaving him stuck on nine wins.

The Bad
Kennedy overpowered the offense.

Bucs whiffed 13 times.

The Rest
One of Karstens two career shutouts came against Arizona in 2008. He is now 1-1 against the Snakes. Kennedy’s only other start against the Pirates was a no decision last year.

Kennedy’s twelve whiffs equaled a career best.

The Pirates established a team worst in strikeouts on the year as they approach 1,250 whiffs.

This was just the seventh time in his career and fourth in 2011 that McCutchen struck out three times or more in one game.

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