Gameday Thread for Sunday, July 09, 2006

[Witlon]

Top 7- Pirates batting facing Ryan Franklin(R)
J. Wilson hit for M. Capps
J. Wilson flied to center. (A. Rowand)
J. Bautista singled to right.
N. McLouth popped to left. (P. Burrell)
F. Sanchez grounded into a fielder's choice to short, Bautista out at second. (J. Rollins - A. Nunez)

[Witlon]

Bottom 7- Phillies batting facing Matt Capps(R)
Roberto Hernandez relieved Matt Capps
A. Nunez flied to left. (J. Bay)
D. Dellucci hit for Ryan Franklin
D. Dellucci singled to left.
J. Rollins singled to left, Delucci to second. Rollins to second, Delucci to third on fielding error by LF Jason Bay.
C. Utley grounded to first. (C. Wilson)
B. Abreu walked intentionally. (1st walk for Roberto Hernandez, 3-0 walk)
P. Burrell struck out looking. (1st strikeout by Roberto Hernandez)

[Witlon]

Top 8- Pirates batting facing Ryan Franklin(R)
Geoff Geary relieved Ryan Franklin
D. Dellucci in left.
J. Bay doubled to center.
J. Randa singled to the pitcher.
C. Wilson grounded into a fielder's choice to third, Randa to second, Bay out at third. (D. Bell)
J. Castillo grounded into a fielder's choice to short, Randa to third, Wilson out at second. (J. Rollins- A. Nunez)
H. Cota grounded into a fielder's choice to short, Castillo out at second. (J. Rollins - A. Nunez)

[Witlon]

Bottom 8- Phillies batting facing Roberto Hernandez(R)
Mike Gonzalez relieved Roberto Hernandez
Jose Hernandez in left.
A. Rowand popped to second. (J. Castillo)
C. Coste struck out swinging. (1st strikeout for M. Gonzalez)
D. Bell walked. (1st walk for M. Gonzalez, 3-0 count walk)
A. Nunez struck out swinging. (2nd strikeout for M. Gonzalez)

[Witlon]

Top 9- Pirates batting facing Geoff Geary(R)
Rick White relieved Geoff Geary
Shane Victorino in left
J. Hernandez singled to center.
J. Bautista fouled to the catcher. (C. Coste)
N. McLouth flied to center. (A. Rowand)
F. Sanchez grounded to third. (D. Bell - C. Utley)

8-3 win for Philly.
WP- C. Hamels
LP- Z. Duke
H- R. Franklin

[redsrbetter]

I know this was a few days ago. But what is up with Duke this year? Are you guys still up on him considering he is young and is likely still learning how to pitch in the big leagues?

[Witlon]

I think everyone is still up on him. When Tracy and Couburn came in, something just clicked in the pitchers that they had to pitch badly. I don't know if it was tweaking their delivery(some people think so), or what.

The blame for these young pitchers(especially Duke, who had an ERA under 2 last year and Perez, who was healthy for the first time since coming to Pittsburgh.), has to fall squarely on Couburn and Tracy.

[redsrbetter]

Time to get rid of those two then?

[Witlon]

I'd be happy with dumping them, but I doubt it will happen. Remember how long they stuck with Lloyd, even though he didn't have these kind of problems.

Now, how dumb does Pittsburgh look for not persuing Leyland now?