Pirates have answer for McCutchen's beaning
-
Reds catcher Ramon Hernandez checks on Andrew McCutchen after he was hit by a pitch Tuesday. -
The Pirates Neil Walker hits a bases-clearing double in the second inning. -
The Pirates' Paul Maholm pitches. -
Pirates second baseman Neil Walker gets Reds Miguel Cairo out at second base on a double play in the first inning. -
Chris Snyder gets his first hit as a Pirate in the second inning. -
The Pirates' Andrew McCutchen is helped off the field by trainers Brad Henderson, right, and Mike Sandoval, left, during the second inning. -
The Pirates' Andrew McCutchen is cared for by trainers after being hit by a pitch from Reds pitcher Mike Leake in the second inning. -
Reds pitcher Mike Leake throws in the first inning. -
The Pirates' Andrew McCutchen is helped off the field by trainers Brad Henderson, left and Mike Sandoval, center, with manager John Russell, rear, during the second inning. -
The Pirates' Andrew McCutchen is cared for by trainers Brad Henderson, bottom center, and Mike Sandoval, right, with manager John Russell, left, coach Tony Beasley, top center, during the second inning. -
The Pirates' Andrew McCutchen is checked by Reds catcher Ramon Hernandez after being hit in the neck by a pitch from Reds pitcher Mike Leake during the second inning.
Share with others:
This time, when an opponent went after the head of the Pirates' best player, they responded.
And then some.
Andrew McCutchen was hit in the back of the neck by a fastball from Cincinnati's Mike Leake -- McCutchen was diagnosed with a bruise and should miss no more than a game or two -- and his teammates followed up not only by retaliating against Leake but also by fending off the Reds' late rally, 7-6, Tuesday night at PNC Park.
Neil Walker had three hits and a career-high four RBIs, newcomer Chris Snyder came up with a clutch two-run single, starter Paul Maholm hit Leake and pitched into the seventh, ever-present Evan Meek toughed out two innings, and Joel Hanrahan recorded his first save in Octavio Dotel's absence.
Game: Pirates vs. Cincinnati Reds, 12:35 p.m., PNC Park.
TV, radio: FSN Pittsburgh, WPGB-FM (104.7).
Pitching: RHP Jeff Karstens (2-6, 4.42) vs. RHP Johnny Cueto (10-2, 3.32).
Key matchup: Cueto is 8-2 with a 3.00 ERA in 11 meetings with the Pirates, including 2-0 with a 1.35 ERA this year. He pitched a one-hit shutout May 11 at PNC.
Of note: In the Pirates' first three home games that have started at 12:35 p.m., they have been outscored by a combined 35-2. The scores: 10-2, 20-0 and 5-0 .
• The PBC Blog
• Box Score
• Statistics
• Standings
"All in all, it's a nice win for everybody," Walker said. "But your main concern is Cutch. We're all just glad he's OK."
With two runners aboard after Snyder's big hit, Leake sent a 1-2 fastball at McCutchen's head with enough velocity -- 90 mph -- that McCutchen had enough time only to turn away. It struck him just below the helmet, primarily on the neck muscles, and he dropped to the batter's box.
The crowd of 13,623 -- which included McCutchen's parents, Lorenzo and Petrina -- was silenced as McCutchen lay on his back, mostly still and appearing woozy, for about three minutes.
"It was scary," Pirates manager John Russell said.
McCutchen was ushered off the field by athletic trainers Brad Henderson and Mike Sandoval. In the clubhouse, X-rays showed no fracture and tests indicated no concussion symptoms.
First Published August 4, 2010 12:00 am
