Pittsburgh Pirates: Regular season results – MLB July 2011 - Part 6
After ending a three match series with the St. Louis Cardinals on a positive note, Pittsburgh Pirates were looking to achieve significant results in their next series with the Atlanta Braves. Sitting on a very healthy position in the Wild Card standings,
the Pirates had done a remarkable job to become the surprising NL Central leading team.
Clint Hurdle and his men got off to a great start in a four match series against Atlanta Braves. In game one, they outclassed their opponent in almost all aspects of the game. The pitchers threw with control and accuracy as they allowed only one run in nine
innings. Making the most of available opportunities, the batters scored freely to lift the Pirates to a 3-1 win.
James McDonald struck-out a career high nine in just over five scoreless innings to allow the Pirates to take a 1-0 lead in the series. Ending each of the first five innings with strike-outs, he gave up only eight hits during the contest, not walking a batter.
"Championship teams, they make good outs," said Pirates’ manager Clint Hurdle. "They find a way to score without hits. We were able to find a way of doing that tonight, and we have to."
However, Clint Hurdle’s side was unable to maintain their good form in following game of the series. Despite putting up a valiant fight, the Pirates were outplayed in finer details of the game. The Braves took complete advantage of the situation and they
rallied past their opponents 4-3 to level the series.
It was a nail biting contest considering the final score-line. Pittsburgh had their chances but they failed to convert them and they paid the ultimate price. The game ended at almost 2 AM in the morning which was the longest in Turner Field history and the
longest in the Majors in the 2011 season.
The Braves showed great determination and fighting spirit to clinch a thrilling game three 2-1. Showing no signs of nerves, they handled the pressure absolutely brilliantly to take a 2-1 lead in the series. Atlanta’s catcher David Ross hit a bases loaded
single in the tenth inning of the game to allow the Braves to secure a memorable win.
The Pirates, however, bounced back superbly in the fourth and final game to end the series strongly. Andrew McCutchen led the Pirates to a great 5-2 win with some sensational hitting.
"I changed something simple," McCutchen said. "The thing about me is if I'm not feeling too well, if something is off, I can figure it out pretty quick by looking at film."
Clint Hurdle aimed to produce similar performances in the upcoming games of the season.
Continued in Part 7
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