The Pirates piled up 12 runs on 12 hits, four walks, two HBP and four Nationals errors to take the first game in Washington.
Craig Monroe got the Pirates going with a three run jack in the third of Nats starter Ross Detwiler. But Pirates hurler Ross Ohlendorf hit some trouble in the fifth. Nick Johnson and Ryan Zimmerman each hit homers in a five run inning.
The Pirates offense countered with five in the visitors half of the sixth to not only get Ohlendorf off the hook, but also to give him the win. The Bucs put together three doubles, a single and a walk to do the damage. Jack Wilson struck the go ahead blow – a two run double.
Ohlendorf gave up five runs in five innings, but earned the win. Garrett Mock was the loser in relief of Detwiler.
The Good
Have to like the sudden surge in offense. I know the Nats aren’t exactly the 1971 Orioles. But, I’ll take it.
Wilson was 4-4, missing the cycle by a homer. He had three runs scored and a pair of RBI.
Every starter had a hit, an RBI or a run scored, except for Ohlendorf
The Bad
Both John Grabow and Matt Capps gave up a run in one inning of work.
The Rest
Historic event: first time ever that two pitchers with the first name of Ross were starting for opposing teams. Ohlendorf and Detwiler. Those names will live on. The closest it has ever come to happening was 1980 when Ross Grimsley, then of Cleveland, made a couple of starts against the Chicago White Sox who featured future Pirate Ross Baumgarten in their rotation. Alas, Grimsley went against Richard Dotson (fellow Anderson High School alum) and Steve Trout. Baumgarten started on 8/30/80 and Grimsley started the second game of a double header on the following day. So close.
Wilson’s four hit game was his second of 2009. He collected just two between 2005 and 2008 combined.
Craig Monroe now has 14 RBI in 45 ABs. I checked on Baseball-Reference.com to find all players with 50 ABs or fewer over the course of a full season and only four players contributed more than 14 RBIs in a given season in which they got 50 or less at bats:
Ron Northey in 1956 (23 RBI in 46 ABs)
Taylor Teagarden in 2008 (17 RBI in 47 ABs)
Walt Bond in 1962 (17 RBI in 50 ABs)
Hank Greenberg in 1936 (16 RBIn in 46 ABs)
