Pirates Game 45 Recap - Pirates 5, Cubs 4

-For five innings the Pirates offense was getting dominated by Matt Garza. He had them off balance and while they were able to work his pitch count up they just weren't making any good contact and things looked pretty bad. It was Garza's first game of the season so his pitch count was held in check so you knew the Pirate were going to get to the pen. When they did it was all good.

-The Pirates sent 11 men to the plate in the sixth inning and scored five runs which was topped by a pinch hit grand slam by Travis Snider and that was all the Pirates needed. The Cubs had to use three relievers in that inning and they made all of them pay. The offense wasn't good anywhere outside of that but sometimes all you need is one good inning of hitting to get a win and that is what happened.

-Wandy Rodriguez pitch pretty well except for one inning and was able to earn the win. He threw six innings, gave up six hits, and struck out five but all the damage against him came in the top of the second inning. In that inning he gave up all three runs thanks to a Darwin Barney two out single and then a Garza double right after. After that he really got things in check and while he did give up six hits he didn't walk a single hitter and managed the game really well.

-The Pirates only had eight hits on the night but they made the ones they got count. Jordy Mercer had two hits and was the only player with more than one even though he came in as a pinch hitter in the sixth inning. Probably the best hitter for the Pirates was Neil Walker. He went 1-for-2 with a double but also walked three times. Walker hasn't been hitting well all season but today he was the only guy who was consistently getting on base.

-The Pirates really needed this win. They get to go against three really tough starters from the Cubs and while a sweep would be nice I think almost everyone would be more than happy with just winning the series. Tomorrow they go against Jeff Samardzija who has always pitched the Pirates tough and is probably one of the most underrated starters in the league. They then go against Edwin Jackson on Thursday afternoon where you could get a great Jackson or one that has n't been great this year.

-I rail against Clint Hurdle a lot, and for good reason, but tonight he made a really nice move that paid off in a big way. With two outs and the bases loaded in the sixth inning Clint Barmes was coming up to bat but instead of sending Barmes up he decided to go with Snider. It turned out to be a good call as Snider went deep and gave the Pirates the game winning run. Barmes has been swinging the bat really well over the last month so it wouldn't have shocked me to see him bat but Hurdle went with the platoon option and it paid off. Nice move by Hurdle. One I didn't think he would make.

-The Pirates probably had no reason winning this game. The offense has been in a funk recently and if it weren't for Garza just coming off the DL I would assume he might have pitched another inning or two. While they didn't play their best baseball they still go the win and that is good enough for me. All wins count the same and with a tough schedule coming up you have to stack wins any way you can. This is a fun baseball team to watch right now and I am enjoying every minute of it.

Pirates Game 45 Preview - vs. Chicago Cubs

Chicago Cubs at Pittsburgh Pirates - 7:05 p.m.
Matt Garza (0-0, 0.00) vs. Wandy Rodriguez (4-2, 3.25)

Season Series (Chicago leads 2-1)
April 1, 2013 - Chicago 3, Pittsburgh 1
April 3, 2013 - Pittsburgh 3, Chicago 0
April 4, 2013 - Chicago 3, Pittsburgh 2


Lineup

Pirates (26-18)
1. Tabata 7
2. Walker 4
3. McCutchen 8
4. Jones 9
5. Martin 2
6. Alvarez 5
7. Sanchez 3
8. Barmes 6
9. Rodriguez 1

Cubs (18-25)
1. Borbon 8
2. Castro 6
3. Rizzo 3
4. Soriano 7
5. Hairston 9
6. Castillo 2
7. Ransom 5
8. Barney 4
9. Garza 1

Penguins ECSF Game 3 Recap - Senators 2, Penguins 1

[Quick recap today after the late night]

-Well, that was not really ideal. Overtime games can be pretty tense and despite the success that the Penguins have had in overtimes in the playoffs, and during the 2013 regular seasons, this shouldn't have been a huge problem but it ended up being one. First was getting to overtime as Ottawa scored a shorthanded game tying goal with around 30 seconds left and then won the game in the second overtime after Mark Eaton's broken stick really caused somewhat of a scramble. The Penguins went from a 3-0 series lead and practically winning this series to the series being 2-1 in favor of the Penguins and having another game in Ottawa. Nobody said it was going to be easy.

-All told, the loss aside, this was the best hockey game to watch in the playoffs so far for the Penguins, and maybe the league. There weren't a ton of goals scored but both the Penguins and Senators played a really good hockey game and both goaltenders were locked in. There were some mistakes and power plays but it didn't nearly take away from the viewing pleasure of the game. While I want the Penguins to win every game I know that is not possible. Going into game three I actually expected the Penguins to lose and while I expected the win with just minutes left in the game I can walk away saying that was an outstanding game to watch on TV.

-Tomas Vokoun was really good. This was his best game of the playoffs so far and the Penguins needed it. He gave up the goal in the second overtime but when your offense only puts one in the back of the net you probably played a pretty good game in order to even get to a second overtime. He made 46 saves and generally was great. Really good to see.

-On the other side before the series I talked about how Craig Anderson needed to steal a few games for Ottawa to have a chance and he stole the first of those last night. He was pretty average/bad in games one and two but he was on the top of his game in game three. Ottawa needed him to be great and he was better than great.

-Despite a lot of people railing on Malkin for the end of the regulation play on the tying goal but he was probably the best player on the ice on the night. He did everything but score a goal and it is realy nice to see him stepping up as he has been really great in this series thusfar. People continually rip Malkin for no reason. I really don't understand it.

-The Ottawa penalty kill is playing like it has in the regular season. The Penguins were on the power play six times, including a full minute of 5-on-3, and didn't find the back of the net one time. The power play wasn't exactly bad it was just Ottawa, and Anderson, did a great job of limited the Penguins and giving themselves a chance to win the game.

-The big talk of the game is the final minute. Erik Karlsson took a penalty with the Senators down one with just over a minute and a half left and that should have just about done it. Instead the Penguins kind of sat back and took their foot off the gas and Daniel Alfredsson darted through the defense from the blue line right behind Malkin and got a pass that went by Kris Letang to beat Vokoun. A lot of people are railing Dan Bylsma for having Malkin on the ice when you are essentially killing a penalty but at the same time he is one of your best players and if he is on the ice he needs to make the play. THe Penguins should have probably pushed the play a little more and played keep away but if you want that then Malkin has to be on the ice as his puck possession was on another level last night. I had somewhat of a problem with Malkin being on the ice at the time last night but as I thought about it I realy don't have as much problem with it. Ideally you might want to have Pascal Dupuis on the ice if you want to play a certain way but there is a possibility that they weren't able to get him on the ice. I really have no idea. People are going to talk about this series of events as to why the Penguins lost but that would be wrong. There were 59 other regulation minuts where they could have added one more goal to make this a moot point and they didn't. That is just as big of a problem.

-The Penguins played a really good hockey game. Maybe the best of the post season so far. It sucks they lost but the goaltender got hot and stole his team a game. It was the first time this postseason the Penguins have scored less than three goals so I expect a better offensive performance on Wednesday.

Penguins Eastern Conference Semifinals Game 3 Preview - @ Ottawa Senators

Ottawa Senators

7:30 p.m., Scotiabank Place, Ottawa, Ontario

The Penguins got off on the right foot with a two game sweep of the Senators to hold serve on home ice and now really put themselves in a really good spot now that the series shifts to Canada for game three and four of the series. Realistically if the Penguins come out of these two games with a split then they will be in a spot that they probably want to be in and give themselves a chance to close out the series in Pittsburgh on Friday. I don't think you can expect a sweep in this series after just two games because it is extremely hard to sweep a series in the NHL. Since the last NHL lockout there have only been 14 sweeps in the playoffs in seven season with no season having more than three sweeps in all of the series. While it is possible it is just something that doesn't happen very often.

Ottawa is going to come out guns blazing today. If there was ever a time that the Penguins were going to have to weather the storm it is going to be in this game. Scotiabank Place is going to be loud and the Senators are going to want to jump on the Penguins right off the bat and try to take their first lead of the series. The Penguins have got off to fast starts in both of the games so far in this series and while they are talented enough to do that again I would be a little surprised if they had such an easy time at the beginning of the game like they had this year.

The big news in Ottawa today is that they will be welcoming back Jason Spezza to the lineup. Spezza is the teams top line center who has been out almost the entire season with a back problem and is now just getting back into the lineup. Spezza is a superior talent in the NHL but I would be pretty surprised if he came in and had the effect that some are thinking he might. He has been skating with the team and on his own for a little while now but on Saturday he finally took off the no contact jersey and had his normal top line jersey on for the first time. So theoretically he has had one practice with his line and now he is jumping in to a game three in the second round of the NHL Playoffs. I can't imagine that Spezza is anywhere near ready to compete at the highest level and this move just smells of desperation from the Ottawa perspective. They are a desperate team so I guess it fits the mold. I guess it wouldn't shock me to see him have a significant game but I am really thinking he is going to be a non-factor tonight.

A couple of lineup changes for the Penguins as Mark Eaton is going to be in the lineup in place of Deryk Engelland. This really isn't a shocker as Engelland has been pretty bad in the first two games and Eaton has been pretty solid all season. Eaton didn't play a ton in the New York series as he was a little out of place with the speed of the Islanders but he should have an easier time against Ottawa. Also looks as if Tanner Glass will be in the lineup as Joe Vitale was absent from the Penguins morning skate with an injury. Nothing for sure on what the injury may be and you know that Dan Bylsma isn't going to give out too much information in that respect but Glass will be in.


Probables

Pittsburgh (6-2 in playoffs)

Forwards
Chris Kunitz - Sidney Crosby - Pascal Dupuis
James Neal - Evgeni Malkin - Jarome Iginla
Brenden Morrow - Brandon Sutter - Matt Cooke
Tanner Glass - Craig Adams - Tyler Kennedy

Defense
Brooks Orpik - Paul Martin
Kris Letang - Matt Niskanen
Mark Eaton - Douglas Murray

Goaltender
Tomas Vokoun


Ottawa (4-3 in playoffs)

Forwards
Cory Conacher - Jason Spezza - Milan Michalek
Jakob Silfverberg - Kyle Turris - Daniel Alfredsson
Zack Smith - Mika Zibanejad - Chris Neil
Colin Greening - Jean-Gabriel Pageau - Erik Condra

Defense
Marc Methot - Erik Karlsson
Jared Cowen - Sergei Gonchar
Chris Phillips - Andre Benoit

Goaltender
Craig Anderson


The Series (Pittsburgh leads 2-0)

May 13, 2013 - Pittsburgh 4, Ottawa 1

May 16, 2013 - Pittsburgh 4, Ottawa 3 The Stats:

Pirates Game 44 Recap - Pirates 1, Astros 0

-The Pirates got away with a win despite not having their best offensive game and having to rely on Jeff Locke who was once again outstanding for the Pirates.

-Locke went seven innings and surrendered only three hits and walked a pair in another really good outing. The Astros really don't have a strong lineup but with the Pirates offense not having a great day with a few of their top hitters out Locke really bailed them out and really looked good again. He control the game and never gave you the feeling that he was going to fall apart and that is exactly what the team needed. In his last six starts, including today, he has thrown 37 innings, allowed 21 hits, eight runs (seven earned), 13 walks and 26 strikeouts. Just great work from Locke and he has been great in between the top duo of Wandy Rodriguez and A.J. Burnett.

-Pedro Alvarez had the big hit for the Pirates as he hit an opposite field laser down the left field line that gave the Pirates their first hit in the fifth inning. He also drew the Pirates only walk of the day and in his other at bat drove a ball to the centerfield wall so all-in-all it was a really nice day at the plate from Alvarez.

-After surrendering the lead last night Mark Melancon came back and pitched a scoreless inning in the eighth while Jason Grilli got the save in the ninth. Nothing to see here, just normal stuff.

-While it would have been nice to sweep the Astros I thought that Tim Neverett made a great point on the broadcast that as long as you are winning a lot of series that you are going to be alright. Sweeps happen but when you are winning series like the Pirates are it is going to set you up really nice. Right now the Pirates are winners of eight of their last ten games and five of the last six. That is good for them and with a tough series coming up against the Cubs hopefully they can win that series too.

Pirates Game 44 Preview - vs. Houston Astros

Houston Astros at Pittsburgh Pirates - 1:35 p.m.
Lucas Harrell (3-4, 5.11) vs. Jeff Locke (3-1, 3.15)

Season Series (Tied 1-1)
May 17, 2013 - Pittsburgh 5, Houston 4
May 18, 2013 - Houston 4, Pittsburgh 2


Lineups

Pirates (25-18)
1. Marte 8
2. Snider 7
3. Jones 9
4. Sanchez 3
5. Walker 4
6. Alvarez 5
7. McKenry 2
8. Barmes 6
9. Locke 1

Astros (12-31)
1. Barnes 8
2. Cedeno 6
3. Altuve 4
4. Carter 3
5. Martinez 7
6. Corporan 2
7. Paredes 9
8. Dominguez 5
9. Harrell 1

Pirates Game 43 Recap - Astros 4, Pirates 2 (11 inn.)

-The Pirates didn't play a great game. They hung around because the Astros aren't very good and they didn't come though with enough hits against a particularly bad Astros pitching staff. Last night they were able to get away with not playing a sharp ballgame and today they didn't get away with it. That is the way baseball works sometimes.

-Before the game by buddy Scott texted me and said that the line on the Pirates tonight was -285. If you are not a gambler that means that in order to win $100 you need to bet $285 if you were going to take the Pirates to win outright. That is a HUGE line. To be honest with the matchup on the mound I would take the Pirates if I was a betting man. Thankfully I am not.

-A.J. Burnett does not get a lot of run support. He has been pretty good all season and the Pirates just simply don't score runs for him. This is why win/loss records for pitchers are largely garbage but we don't need to get in to that. Burnett wasn't overly great tonight but he did his job going seven innings and giving up only five hits and one run. He did walk four hitters which isn't good but despite being a little while he did only throw 100 pitches in those seven innings.

-Mark Melancon with a rare off night as he came in the eighth inning with a 2-1 lead and gave up three hits which included the game tying run. It happens.

-Not really much else to take from the game. It is really tough to sweep any team in baseball in a three game set no matter how bad they are. The Astros won tonight but if the Pirates can come back tomorrow and take the series then it will be successful. After winning three of four from the Brewers taking two of three from the Astros would set them up really nice going into the final three games of the home stand against the Cubs.

-Quick turnaround tomorrow. 1:35 start.