Did James McDonald get hurt?

Seriously, what the hell is going on in Pittsburgh? I don’t have the game on, but I saw that McDonald was simply dealing at PNC Park.

Over 6 innings he let up 3 hits, no runs and 8 strikeouts on 96 pitches. Then he was lifted. He didn’t come out for the 7th. Out came Chris Resop who faced 3 batters, all got hits including a lead off homer by Angel Sanchez.

As I write this, the Pirates 2-0 lead has turned into a 3-2 hole.

Come on Pirates!
.500 is a win away.

Leave in the pitchers when they are pitching well. Just a tip from your pal Sully

Justice for Chris Resop

Last week, I saluted Pirates reliever Chris Resop for his 3 shutout innings, all after the 9th. He didn't get a win nor a save nor a hold for that, yet he helped keep the mighty Rockies off of the board long enough for the Bucs to win.

Well today the ledger evened out.

The Pirates looked like they were going to blow a game where they had a 4-0 lead before the Reds even came to bat. I warned them that losing a game like this meant they didn't DESERVE a .500 record.

The Pirates blew the lead, took it back and let the Reds tie it in the 7th. With 2 outs on the 7th, Resop came in to face back up Cincinnati catcher Ryan Hanigan. On his second pitch, Hanigan popped up to end the inning.

The next inning Andrew McCutchen drove home the go ahead run and the Pirates went on to win.

So a game where Resop throws 3 shutout innings in relief, all extra innings, he gets nothing positive for his record.

A game where he threw 2 pitchers to a back up catcher? He gets a win. That's the universe paying him back.

Sully Baseball Salutes... Chris Resop and the Pirates bullpen

I am guessing not a lot of you watched the Pirates - Rockies game last night. PNC Park wasn't exactly standing room only and the two teams are not the most popular in the bigs.

21 Rockies played. 20 Pirates played. With 41 players putting this game on the Baseball Reference page, I am frankly surprised that the Pirates didn't have the Parrot warming up.

Pirate manager (and former Rockies manager) Clint Hurdle out managed Rockies manager (and former Pirates manager) Jim Tracy as Jose Tabata drove in the winning run in the 14th.

While you may not have seen the game, it is worth a salute. Not because it will affect the pennant race or be in the next Ken Burns entry.

But the Pirates bullpen was pressed into service early as Ross Ohlendorf lasted only 2 2/3 innings.

How did they respond?
Jeff Karstens, Michael Crotta, Jose Veras, Joel Hanrahan, Chris Resop and Garrett Olson combined to go 11 1/3 scoreless innings.

The likes of Troy Tulowitzki and Carlos Gonzalez were in the lineup. So was Jason Giambi who homered off of Ohlendorf.

None of those pitchers are on anyone's short list for Cy Young contenders. And yet they did their job big time. In fact, according to Bucs Insider, it was the longest shutout bullpen outing since 1900.

How long ago was that?
There was no American League yet when that happened.

Karstens pitched 3 1/3 innings starting in the 3rd. But I am making a special salute to Resop.
He came into the game in the 10th inning and looked shaky. He let up a double and a wild pitch and had the bases loaded. But he wiggled out by getting out Ty Wigginton.

He pitched a scoreless 11th and 12th inning, giving the Pirates 3 shutout innings AFTER the ninth.

He will not get a win for his effort. Olson got the win after 2 shutout innings.
He will not get a save for his effort nor a hold.

But he has earned a salute here for a terrific effort.

If Pirates players like Chris Resop just do their job like they did last night, the Pirates may win a few more games.

If they go 77-77 the rest of the way, then will have a winning season. And the key to a winning season is doing the little things right.

Good job Chris Resop and the pen.
Now do that 77 more times.