Alvarez, Walker power Pirates' 11-9 slugfest win
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The Pirates' Pedro Alvarez hits a grand slam in the first inning Tuesday night at PNC Park. -
Pirates manager John Russell argues with first plate umpire D.J. Reyburn in the seventh inning. -
The Pirates' Neil Walker gets his fourth hit of the game in the sixth inning. -
The Brewers' Alcides Escobar slides safely into third base against the Pirates' Pedro Alvarez in the third inning. -
The Pirates' Pedro Alvarez rounds third base after hitting his second home run in the second inning. -
The Brewers' Rickie Weeks slides safely into second base against the Pirates' Neil Walker in the sixth inning. -
Pirates outfielder Jose Tabata leaps for a home run ball hit by the Brewers' Jim Edmonds in the third inning. -
The Brewers' Ryan Braun, right, is congratulated by teammate Rickie Weeks after hitting a two-run home run in the sixth inning. -
The Pirates' Pedro Alvarez returns to the dugout after hitting a grand slam off Brewers pitcher Dave Bush in the first inning. -
The Pirates' Pedro Alvarez, left, is greeted as he crosses home plate by Garrett Jones (46), Jose Tabata, rear right, and Delwyn Young (24) after hitting a grand slam off Brewers pitcher Dave Bush in the first inning. -
The Pirates' Pedro Alvarez rounds third to greetings from coach Tony Beasley after hitting a grand slam off Brewers pitcher Dave Bush in the first inning. -
Pirates pitcher Brad Lincoln throws in the first inning. -
Pirates shortstop Ronnie Cedeno takes the throw from catcher Erik Kratz as the Brewers' Alcides Escobar attempts to steal second in the seventh inning. Escobar couldn''t hold the bag and was tagged out on the play. -
Pirates closer Octavio Dotel celebrates after getting the third out of the ninth inning.
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It took two home runs by Pedro Alvarez, including a grand slam.
It took 5 for 5 from Neil Walker.
It took back-to-back-to-back RBI doubles.
It took a nine-run first inning, one of the greatest in the franchise's 124 years.
It took all of that and, incredibly, it took even more for the Pirates to somehow find themselves staving off the Milwaukee Brewers, 11-9, Tuesday night at PNC Park: A game that was 9-0 before all of the 13,202 had been seated soon turned to 10-7, then 10-9, then ...
Game: Pirates vs. Milwaukee Brewers, 7:05 p.m., PNC Park.
TV, radio: FSN Pittsburgh, WPGB-FM (104.7).
Pitching: LHP Zach Duke (3-9, 5.38) vs. LHP Randy Wolf (7-8, 4.56).
Key matchup: Not many lefties hit Duke hard, but Prince Fielder owns a .323 average -- 10 for 31 -- with two home runs, seven RBIs.
Of note: Wolf has allowed 21 home runs, second-most in the majors. Lastings Milledge and Pedro Alvarez took him deep July 11 in Milwaukee.
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A save situation?
Who saw that coming?
"To be honest with you, no chance," closer Octavio Dotel said. "I can't hide that. I've seen a lot of things in baseball. But tonight ... oh my God, it looked like our turn to beat them up. Thank God we ended up winning the game."
Hey, anyone seen Jim Rooker?
It was June 8, 1989, when Rooker was broadcasting a game from Philadelphia and, after the Pirates scored 10 in the first, famously spoke, "If we lose this game, I'll walk home." The Phillies won, 15-11, and Rooker made a 300-mile charity walk that fall.
History did not repeat: D.J. Carrasco bailed out Brad Lincoln after another poor start, and Evan Meek, Joel Hanrahan and Dotel protected the 11-9 lead with typically spotless relief, Hanrahan registering 99 mph to freeze Ryan Braun for his final out, Dotel finally registering his 20th save after blowing two in Milwaukee last week. Each faced the tying run at the plate.
Rewinding to the beginning, Alvarez's slam, off Dave Bush and over the Clemente Wall, was only the opening salvo of the nine-run first: Erik Kratz and Ronny Cedeno reached on back-to-back errors by third baseman Casey McGehee, a bunt advanced the runners, and Jose Tabata, Delwyn Young and Walker drilled rapid-fire RBI doubles.
First Published July 21, 2010 12:11 am
