2012-09-02 Pirates (McDonald) at Brewers (Gallardo), 1:10 PM CDT [Brewers win wacky slugfest, 12-8]

[pretendastronaut]

[igt-2012][game-setup][logo]http://dl.dropbox.com/u/20589901/BrewerFan/2012/logos/pirates.png[/logo][game-info][h1]September 02 | 1:10 P.M.[/h1][h2]Pirates (70-62) | Brewers (64-68)[/h2][h3]FSWI | WTMJ 620[/h3][/game-info][logo]http://dl.dropbox.com/u/20589901/BrewerFan/2012/logos/brewers.png[/logo][/game-setup][pitching-photos]http://dl.dropbox.com/u/20589901/BrewerFan/2012/pitchers/pirates/mcdonald-02.jpghttp://dl.dropbox.com/u/20589901/BrewerFan/2012/pitchers/brewers/gallardo-26.jpg[/pitching-photos][game-matchup][divclass=away][h2]12-6, 3.57 ERA, 1.18 WHIP[/h2][h3]Versus Brewers | Game Log[/h3][h3]McDonald hopes to stop a second-half pattern of inconsistency by following up Tuesday's seven scoreless innings of two-hit pitching against the Cardinals. After a volatile period, he has allowed only two homers in last 28 innings.[/h3][/divclass][divclass=home][h2]14-8, 3.52 ERA, 1.26 WHIP[/h2][h3]Versus Pirates | Game Log[/h3][h3]Gallardo is on a roll. He has pitched at least seven innings in six straight starts, all wins. He has allowed more than one run only twice in those games, and leads the Majors with 22 quality starts.[/h3][/divclass][starting-lineup][divclass=away]

1. 2B Brock Holt
   
2. LF Jose Tabata
   
3. CF Andrew McCutchen
   
4. RF Garrett Jones
   
5. 1B Gaby Sanchez
   
6. 3B Pedro Alvarez
   
7. C Michael McKenry
   
8. SS Josh Harrison
   
9. LHP James McDonald

[/divclass][divclass=home]

1. RF Norichika Aoki
   
2. 2B Rickie Weeks
   
3. LF Ryan Braun
   
4. 3B Aramis Ramirez
   
5. 1B Corey Hart
   
6. C Martin Maldonado
   
7. CF Carlos Gomez
   
8. SS Jeff Bianchi
   
9. RHP Yovani Gallardo

[/divclass][/starting-lineup][/game-matchup][game-links][h3][chat]BrewerFan Chat[/chat] | MLB Gameday[/h3][/game-links][/igt-2012]

[AZBrewCrew]

I'm surprised Braun still gets pitched to. Wow.

[topper09er]

Braun ties his career high in HRs with 29+ games to go

[jerichoholicninja]

Does anyone know if Yo has a home and road glove? I noticed last time he pitched it was on the road and he used a black glove. Today he's using a yellow glove. I've noticed he uses two different gloves before just wondering if anyone knows if there's a reason behind it.

[pebadger]

Being pretty much out of the race does sort of take the worry out of these games from a fan perspective and lets you just have fun watching. This one, through 1.5 innings, appears like it should be entertaining.

[Spidey]

Ueck on Rickie's homer: "and the Pirates' pitching coach, Ray Searage, is coming out to look at the hole in the scoreboard." Hee Hee.

[owbc]

Will the Brewers finish ahead of the Pirates in the standings this year?

[sdcheezhd]

"And Ray Searage, the Pirates' pitching coach, is out . . . to inspect the hole in the scoreboard."

 

That's about as excited as Ueck has gotten in a long time.

 

4 balls hit fair so far and 3 HRs.

 

ooops, preempted. Worth hearing 2x right?

[Spidey]

Worth hearing 2x right?

 

Right.

 

Also, a new one from Ueck: "Take a ride on THAT one!"

 

Sweet.

[rluzinski]

Will the Brewers finish ahead of the Pirates in the standings this year?

 

Still a long shot but its been my secret little goal since the Brewers fell out of the race.

[TURBO]

Gosh, I really hate to beat a dead horse, but if the bullpen would have given up half the losses they did this season, we'd be in good shape for a playoff run...

 

I know, "what ifs" get you no place.

[WIsports4life]

Im really getting sick of our players getting constantly hit by pitches without any kind of retaliation.

[AZBrewCrew]

well..lets hope the bullpen doesnt implode.

[pebadger]

Coshun: " . . . you feel OK with an 11-7 lead . . . "

 

That makes one of us.

[sixtolezcano16]

 

Yo just couldn't make it through 5 today, no matter how hard RR wanted him to get the win. And that's why we still need a #1.

[owbc]

Unfortunately there are only about 10-15 true #1 or "ace" starters in baseball, so the majority of teams have to do without one.

[Lee16]

And here we go...

[TURBO]

Parra can sure look like a big baby at times...

[markedman5]

Nice job by Ax and the pen today(other then Parra).

 

12 runs should be enough and thankfully today it was.....

[BrewerTerp]

Totally not even caring at all or paying attention to it because it's not going to happen, but the Brewers are now only 6 back in the loss column for the last wild card spot.

[dlk9s]

 

Yo just couldn't make it through 5 today, no matter how hard RR wanted him to get the win. And that's why we still need a #1.

 

Because top pitchers never have a bad game?

 

That was the first game in which Yo didn't get past 5 innings since April. It was only the 5th game all season in which he didn't get through at least 6 innings. Since April, not counting this game, Yo has pitched 142 innings, has 145 K, 3.04 ERA, .222 BAA, .656 OPS against. I specify "since April" because, as we all, know he had those two uncharacteristic stinkers against St. Louis (well, I guess against St. Louis they weren't all that unusual for Yo).

 

Yo also leads all of MLB with 22 quality starts.

 

He's allowed to have a bad game.

[The stache]

Break out the brooms!!!!

[Spidey]

Totally not even caring at all or paying attention to it because it's not going to happen, but the Brewers are now only 6 back in the loss column for the last wild card spot.

 

I'm sorry but reverse-jinxing does not work. I've tried it repeatedly, and it's no use.

[hawing]

The hawing household defines "wacky slugfest" as a game with at least 25 total hits, so today's game qualified. I'm not sure what was with those slacker four starters who didn't go deep today. Corey will probably beg off since he hit the dinger last night.

 

I haven't been following the Pirates closely outside their games with Milwaukee, but this weekend they didn't really look like they were playing for a postseason. I didn't sense urgency on their part during either Friday's game or today's. I suppose they might have a mental hurdle to overcome still with the Brewers (and maybe especially Miller Park), but I hope they are not counting themselves out already.

[bullox]

One thought that came to mind during the game: Gaby Sanchez is doing his best to become a future Brewer. Not sure where he'd play though.