Tonight was Bring Your Dog to the Ballpark Day at PNC. They had plenty of room to romp.
The Pirates threw the Astros a bone in the 1st. With one out, Lamb walked. Berkman followed with a grounder to the sometime 1b Nagy. Nagy tried for the throw to 2nd without stepping in to get a better angle. He hit Lamb on the elbow and everyone was safe. Two more singles and a one out grounder put the Astros up 3-0 in the 1st.
Pettitte made full use of the lead. In the top of the 2nd Bay and Bautista homered to put 3 runs across to tie it. But Andy buckled down and started to grind. He made it through 6.2, without command and without really fooling anyone. He gave up 10 hits and exited the 6th after 2 infield hits. Springer got the call and with 2 strikes on Bay, came inside and knicked his jersey, loading the bases.
At this point the score was 6-3. The Astros were scratching runs across. A wild pitch set up an RBI single for Biggio. And later, Biggio got a bases loaded sac fly (3 RBI tonight) and Everett followed with a single for another run.
Springer got to 0-2 with high fastballs to the pinch hitter Doumit. More nibbling fastballs at the corner and a high sailing fastball put the count at 3-2. However he ended the threat by getting a foul pop to 3d.
In the top the 8th, Taveras singled, stole 2nd easily and scored on a Berkman single by the 3b.
Nieve blazed through the bottom of the 8th with 2 Ks and then went back out in the 9th. He was slowed down by 2 doubles to put the score at 7-4. Unfortunately this got Lidge and T Miller up in the bullpen to throw some pitches. However, Nieve put an end to the uprising by inducing 2 ground outs.
Jason Hirsh tomorrow, 6:05. JD thinks the AAA feeling of the ballpark at PNC will help his concentration.
