Pittsburgh Pirates: Regular season results for June - MLB 2011 - Part 7
With an impressive 2-1 series win over Baltimore Orioles, Pittsburgh Pirates were looking in a very confident mood. Reaching the breakeven point in their win-loss record, the Pirates had shown great willpower and fighting spirit to bring things back on track
after they made a very shaky start to their 2011 regular season campaign. Clint Hurdle and his men were hoping to continue their good form throughout the month of June to keep them in the playoffs race.
Making the most of available opportunities, the Pirates dominated Boston Red Sox in almost all departments of the game in a three match series. In game one, NL Central team displayed some high quality baseball in front of thousands of Boston Red Sox Fans.
Jose Tabata and Lyle Overbay both had two hits and an RBI and Paul Maholm pitched with control and accuracy. Maholm earned his eight win of the season to help Pirates take a 1-0 lead in the series.
“We had some work to do once Paul left the game, and we were able to match up well to get the guys in to face the guys that we felt that we might have had an advantage,” Pittsburgh manager, Clint Hurdle said. “We made the good pitches when we needed to.”
With momentum on their side, the Pirates continued their excellent form in game two of the series as well. In addition to being very attacking, they had a rock solid defence as well, which let them establish complete control over the contest. The Red Sox
put up a brave fight but they were outplayed in finer details of the game.
Pittsburgh closer, Joel Hanrahan made sure the Pirates celebrate another deserving series win at the PNC Park as he earned his 22nd save of the season. Hanrahan struck out Adiran Gonzalez to end the game in memorable fashion. “You've just got
to keep pounding them,” Hanrahan said.
Pittsburgh manager, Clint Hurdle said, “It's a great feeling out there right now.”
Lyle Overbay once again delivered for his side as he hit a 3 run homer and Jeff Karstens won for the fifth time this season to lift Pirates to a 6-4 win over the Red Sox. Although the Pirates put up a decent show in third and final game, they were unable
to handle the pressure at crucial moments and Boston battled back to restore some of the lost pride.
Andre Miller picked up his first win with the Red Sox, allowing only five hits in six innings and Boston snapped Pirate’s four games winning streak. Miller said, “I felt like I was just carrying over what I've been working on in the past, and it felt pretty
good.”
Continued in part 8
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