Final: Pirates 6, Cardinals 5, 10 innings

The Pirates are rumored to be interested in Ben Revere from Phillies. I think this could be a nice pick up without giving up much. Could alternate with Polanco and fill that much needed lead off spot. Singles hitter with speed that can steal some bases.

Josh Bell just crushed one in the Futures Game...Bodes well.

Since Fox and their affiliate hosed me last night, I listened to highlights this morning on Mad Dog Radio. The guy played Brown and Blass calling Cutch's homer, and then said "Apparently, that was the first walk off homer in the history of the Pittsburgh Pirates." Lol good.

Cardinals Lineup

1. Matt Carpenter (L) 3B
2. Kolten Wong (L) 2B
3. Jhonny Peralta (R) SS
4. Jason Heyward (L) RF
5. Yadier Molina (R) C
6. Mark Reynolds (R) 1B
7. Randal Grichuk (R) LF
8. Peter Bourjos (R) CF
9. Tim Cooney (L) P

Please include last night's game in both team's standings. I much prefer seeing 3-1/2 games back than 4-1/2 games!

Pirates promote Wilfredo Boscan, option Steve Lombardozzi

I will post this here since I have no place to put it...has anyone else been getting push notifications for articles that havent been published? happened a few times for roster moves and the like.

And as I say that...there is the update in the article above. move along. nothing to see here.

I get the prn was taxes last night but shortening the already weak bench seems odd.

Is it 8:00 yet?!

Best time to be a Pirates fan in over 2 decades...nationally televised for the many expatrates in the Lunatic Nation, and we can grouse and cheer amongst ourselves on the best city sports blog in the USA. Bring it on!

12 of the Bucs' 87 games have gone extra innings. 7 of those have gone 12 or more innings. That's got to be clutch pitching from the pen and weak hitting when the pressure's on, no?

In those games they are 5 wins 7 losses, 1-3 vs Cardinals. 3-0 in their last 3 extra inning games.

Something's happening here, something good. If you take "recency bias" too seriously, you'll miss trends.

Go Bucs!

What's the game time weather forecast looking like?

I'd start Pedro today. Can't hit lefties if you never face them.

I agree on Pedro. Rodriguez is too weak offensively. you basically never have to throw him a strike.

ESPN Baseball Tonight crew giving the PBC quite a bit of love in the pregame. Plus the sun's out!

OMG sitting and watching ESPN pregame. Their comments include:

Cervelli is doing a decent job of replacing Martin.

Polonco is one of the Pirates big home run hitters.

Who preps these guys? And why aren't they doing their own homework.

Ugh, touch and feel lefty? Guess they have the scouting report on the Bucs.

Nice stuff watching Hurdle with the kids.

Let's just enjoy the fact that ESPN chose the Pirates and Cardinals over Yankees and Red Sox for once.

This is NOT Cooney's MLB Debut!

A lot of love out there for pedro..love it..cards seem to be afraid of him too

My mistake on Cooney...Baseball Reference didn't have a previous MLB appearance for him, for some reason. Corrected in the notes!

Why wasn't cole up there accepting his all star jersey?

Let's Go Bucs! Get this series win.

umps getting booed LOUDLY as they're announced

Sounds like Hart is done.

This constant strike zone on every pitch every batter is irritating and a distraction from what the batter is doing ...

Watching this broadcast makes me really appreciate Root Sports camera straight on line from the rubber to home from the batter's eye. As I typically watch the Bucs on Root, I never realized how sweet that camera angle is.

The Pompeani Family behind the plate. It's important to be famous to sit there

Kruk .... "Jordy Mercer can run a little bit"!

2 in a row right handed for Walker!

Pitch was inside.

Good evening, all! Some info on a couple of injured players in the game thread.

I bet Votto wouldn't have gotten rung up on that one. Cutch gets no respect from umpires. Rookie misses his spot in a full count with former MVP up and he rings him up. SMH.

surprised at the attendance. whole sections in right field empty...

Frankie all over the place early on and hit and run puts Cards in business

Long night go Frankie tonight

We didn't get the bordrline call against Heyward, but he calls a strike against Cutch. Totally changed the inning.

Nelson needs to bear down.

I didn't know the Pirates had someone named Nelson Liriano!

Pedro would have had that...

Nice throw Jordy

Four whole upper-deck sections empty here. Really surprised by this. And I mean that literally. It never even occurred to me this wouldn't be a sellout.

The Pirates just like coming back, that's all.

I think I would pass out if the Pirates would ever get a REAL first baseman that can hit and just field for average.

Frankie struggling a little here. Needs to settle down and pitch his game.

Time to dump Corey Hart. Sadly a bust of a signing. Gotta make a deal for some bench help.

Really nice instincts on that double play by Liriano.

Very close call. Rough start. But only 1 run against. We will hit this kid in the next couple innings.

How about a trip - trip - trip - triple !!!!!!!!!

Trip-trip-triple!!

Franceeeeeeesssssssccccoooooooo!!!!!

Need a Batman moment here

Yeesh. Make them throw you out. Terrible decision

Why is Rodriguez playing tonight?? And, Jordy leading off??
Sometimes Clint has major brain farts.

Rodriguez = wasted at bat 9 times out of 10.

Sean Rodriguez no Discipline at the plate or understanding the situation. Guy just got jacked for a triple and you swing at the first pitch

I believe a lot of the empty seats are from Cards fans leaving to get home.

Just like Burnett!

the pitchers can hit!

FRANKIE!!!!!!!!!

STUPID TO WALK SPEED THATS NOT HITTING!

#PitchersWhoRake

WOW !!!! Way to help yourself out Francisco !!!!!!

OK how does Polanco score from 1st on a single to right?

Can he play first occasionally? He and AJ could platoon.

Clutch hits again with two outs.

Two out Lightning!

Next man up!! Keep it going!!

Even the pitchers hit better than Rodriguez!! Yoy!!!

Hopefully all the running loosens up his slider.

Sofield might be out of a job soon. Seems nobody is looking at him rounding 2nd...

Liriano's first multi RBI game

I have a feeling it's going to be another strange game with lots of surprises left.

This HP ump is MUCH better than last night's. So far.

Sick of Peralta

Quote from Pirates Gameday..."In one swing Liriano equals his RBI total for the last nine years."

MARTE STILL GIVES AWAY TOO MANY AT BATS!

What's the deuce is going on here with these K's...

Yadi is a show off

REPLAY......

I would've taken a look at that one...

Yep...they need to look at that one.

Molina is just ridiculous

Liriano should buzz Molina...

Frankie settling in nicely...just need to get him some more runs.

Matheny shaved his weekend hangover stubble for primetime

Hilarious. Strike called a ball.

That was the second time the nationally televised commentators have said "good pitch" to a Cardinals pitcher when strike 3 was called, but was clearly 4 inches off the plate. Get rid of umps.

Molina is really good.

he grabbed his helmet to push it down on his head! TALKING HEADS!

Nice job Greg. Hitting those lefties.....

SEAN RODRIGUEZ AND GREGORY POLANCO!

Rodriguez went for that time

I think someone here already mentioned it, but it looks like a good call by Hurdle to start Rodriguez tonight against the lefty...

now that's why Frankie is hitting .054!

Cardinals with a man up in the bullpen. Would be really nice to chase a picture early after all the relievers used yesterday.

Kind of surprised at how many extra bases the Cards have been giving the Bucs on throws to the plate.

Mercer needs to come up big now!

now we need a zero from Frankie

Good things usually happen when you get RBIs from the bottom of the order

How many sponsors do we need on the Home Run Derby?

THE GILLETTE home run derby BROUGHT TO YOU BY HEAD AND SHOULDERS!

and did we mention we came up with a terrible format for you to watch?

ZERO FOR FRANKIE!

Frankie is on a roll!

Two clean frames in a row for Liriano

@ the game. KD Pomp and his wife on the Kiss Cam.

79 pitches for Liriano through 5. I wonder if he can get through 7. He would be facing the bottom of the order in the 7th.

From your twitter line DK:
"If you're wondering why this isn't a sellout, check my mentions line. Endless litany of excuses offered there. Seriously, it's all covered."

"Endless litany of excuses" Bit snarky for a calm cool just get the story guy, don't ya think?

Perhaps some legit reasons not excuses?

Just sayin.

Legit reasons perhaps?

I can't believe I am watch a square box and geometry activity on this telecast. It is my first time watching ESPN, and it is horribly distracting. and unnecessary clutter that permeates so much of broadcasts.

CLINT .... WHY PLAY GAMES WITH BRINGING IN YOUR 5TH STARTER? ... LOCKE IS TOO FRAGILE!

please

Get through this inning and ride Watson and Melancon

Looks like Locke was just getting his bullpen session a little late

Need the taylor made from hughes here.

Stunning to see DK"s tweet that many empty seats. I assumed 3 sellouts at least, especially with Cardinal Fans, but sell out especially tonight.

Is it unreasonable to expect Kang to tag the runner going to third and fire to first for the double play?

7Why go from groundball expert to who knows what from bastardo with the guy approaching todd frazier status coming to the plate? I really dont get it.

Kang could have tagged runner there and then maybe thrown to first or at least kept the tieing run at second

As Bastardo enters game, keep in mind your anxiety levels mean nothing.

His ability to throw strikes will mean everything, however.

Bastardo. Mischief managed.

So nice to get Carpenter out of the way for--hopefully--the rest of the game

Well, that worked!

Another run and we are golden

Time to add on an insurance run!

Just read some earlier comments about Marte's penchant fir striking out too often. Lots of players strike out way too much nowadays. I just finished reading the biography of Ted Williams. When that dude hit .406 in 1941 he only struck out a total of 46 times all season. Incredible!!!!

Wow! Those Polanco make that call himself or does it come from the dugout?

Pedro for Gorkys here

Olney picked us in WS, right?

Let's hear from the man who knows something about baseball.

What is it going to be, Gorkys? A bunt or a 16 foot popup?

Choade couldn't get the job done

I am not a lip reader, nor do I play one on TV, but did that pitcher say something like "What a BS play" ??

We'll see if Gorkys can bunt

Gorkys?

Swinging bunt by Gorkys...

eapn talking sacrifice. you dont send up a ph to sacrifice. unleas you send up a starting pitcher to do it. then gorkys shows bunt. crazy way to waste a bench guy. of course as i type gorkys lays down a swinging bunt. weak.

Need a big 2 out hit

please, PLEASE dont tell me that fans are doing the wave.

if so, im more embarrassed being a Pirates fan now than I was in 2005

Sounds like broadcast booth has had a beer for each foot of the wall.

ESPN announcers are brutal
Now we're talking about shirt colors

I believe this is the 3rd day in a row that Watson's pitched. Hope he still has enough in the tank.

Wong pulling a Tabby.

Our pitchers hit more damn batters.

Wheels are off here

Danger will robinson! oh boy.

MERCER STINKS

Jordy redux

Pirates may be the most deceiving team in baseball. Win loss record is very good. But man they really can't hit. Marte hurt or not is just tough to watch. The promise of two years ago of pending breakout is just not happening. Absolutely no plate discipline after three years in the league.Mercer is so unreliable in big moments.

tie game and still lots of danger out there. watson looking bad right now.

holy heck you guys are the most bipolar "fans" ever.

They keep saying Kang is out of position. He's a 3B by trade. Goodness

Instead of trading for 1B, how about we get a REAL SS. It's been a while since we had an actual real life SS.

If I hear another word about what a great SS Mercer is I think my head will explode. The guy's an awful fielding SS and always has been. Where did this myth about his fielding ability start?

That's 4 outs and Cards still batting

good effort by neil there.

Tony doesn't do his job....

Apparently only Cards get the inside off-the-edge pitch.

Watson and Rosenthal - two of the most reliable relievers in the NL - give up a run** in this series. Gotta love their dependability in minimizing these otherwise gut wrenching moments in the late innings...

** Watson is still pitching, 2 outs

Got that call...

Way to battle Tony!

As messy as Tony was there, he escapes if Jordy doesn't boot that

Lucky to still be tied - need Cutch to extend his streak here

Wow. Walked the tightrope in that inning. Time now to get the bats in gear

Need to find another option to use Watson a bit less in the second half. Has been struggling the last couple of weeks. Will need him down the stretch

Glad Watson got that strike 3 called. I would've broke something valuable

Mercer panicked ... cost us a run

I stand by my claim that this ump has been pretty good. And surprisingly consistent with the inside call.