By Paul Meyer
PHILADELPHIA – For 11 innings last night, the Pirates were dead in the water offensively.
“We weren’t really doing anything,’’ manager John Russell said.
But then in the 12th inning, the Pirates “erupted.’’
Run-scoring hits by slumping Steve Pearce and surging Freddy Sanchez gave the Pirates a 2-0 win against Philadelphia – which really hasn’t been doing anything.
The loss left the Phillies with back-to-back shutouts. They lost to Florida, 3-0, Thursday. And they’re 2 for 36 with runners in scoring position over their past four games.
The Pirates, held to one hit through nine innings, came off the mat against rookie Les Walrond in the 12th.
Ryan Doumit lined a leadoff double into left-center field. Brandon Moss’ slow bouncer to second moved Doumit to third.
Pearce, who was 5 for 28 at game time, drilled a ball inside third base for a double. Moments later, with the bases loaded, Pearce scored on Sanchez’ hit behind second base.
“That should be a nice confidence boost for him,’’ Russell said of Pearce’s double.
“The real confidence booster was that check-swing hit off [Brad] Lidge [in the 10th inning],’’ Pearce said.
That one didn’t lead to anything, though.
No question Pearce has struggled.
“He needs to start making adjustments,’’ Russell said. “He’s always been a very aggressive hitter. [Opposing pitchers are] not giving him a lot of great pitches to hit and he needs to make adjustments to lay off those pitches.
“We’ve talked to him about that. It’s a process. He’s a very aggressive hitter. He loves to swing the bat. Sometimes that will hurt you more than help you because you try to do too much.
“He’s got to start learning how to manage the strike zone, manage his at-bats, be a little more in control of what he’s trying to do.
“You don’t want to take away the aggressiveness. You want him to be aggressive but under control – put himself in a better position to be aggressive.
“We’re all about aggressiveness. We’re all about swinging the bat with a purpose. But it’s more a situation of being in a position to be aggressive – to be in a position to see the ball well and put an aggressive swing on it. Right now he’s not quite there. He’s taking aggressive swings at too many pitches.’’
Doesn’t matter where the pitch is, either – inside, outside, high, in the dirt.
“He tries to do a little too much,’’ Russell said.
Things were some better last night.
“It was a big hit for me AND the team,’’ Pearce said of his double.
Russell entrusted that two-run lead to right-hander Craig Hansen, acquired from Boston in the Jason Bay trade July 31.
Russell could have used Tyler Yates, but the right-hander has been involved in a family situation with his baby daughter.
“He’s been traveling a lot,’’ Russell said. “It just wasn’t a real great night for him to pitch.’’
Hansen quickly got the first out of the bottom of the 12th, but then walked Jimmy Rollins and Shane Victorino.
That meant he might have to face both troublesome left-handed hitters – Chase Utley and Ryan Howard.
Turned out, he only pitched to Utley.
Utley lined a ball into left-center field that seemed destined to be a hit. However, Moss made a great diving catch, then got to his feet and threw to Sanchez, who in turn threw to first to nail Victorino, who was almost around second base, for the final out.
“Utley hit that last ball real good,’’ Phillie manager Charlie Manuel said. “It was like it was meant for us not to score.’’
“Stupid,’’ Victorino said. “I shouldn’t have been there.’’
“A great play,’’ Russell said. “If that ball gets through, it’s a tie game. [Moss] made an aggressive play. And he didn’t panic and just get up and fire the ball.’’
That double play gave Hansen his third major league save -- and first National League save.
Pirate starter Paul Maholm allowed five hits and struck out a career-high 10 in his seven innings.
“Paulie threw extremely well,’’ Russell said. “He really locked in.’’
The left-hander – perhaps becoming the hard-luck left-hander -- has allowed three earned runs or less in eight of his past 10 starts, but that’s netted him just three victories. Beginning with his start at St. Louis, he has a 2.86 earned run average in his past 13 starts – but only five wins.
Posted
Aug 09 2008, 01:40 AM
by
Paul Meyer