The Pittsburgh Pirates still have to have a bad taste in their mouth after Catcher Russell Martin and Manager Clint Hurdle were ejected from Monday's game one after both argued balls and strikes. Most armchair catchers would agree the duo had a good case to argue but the Home Plate Umpire had a short fuse and to the showers in the fifth inning it would end Martin's and Hurdle's evening. Tonight Pittsburgh may have a shot at a little redemption with Locke drawing duty. Locke is 5-1 2.25 ERA this season and shows no signs of slowing down. After going 1-6 6.56 ERA in ten starts in the two previous seasons for Pittsburgh, Locke is now in the midst of a 19 inning scoreless streak allowing 13 Hits going 2-0 in last three outings. Locke will look to neutralize McCann, Heyward and Freeman all of whom had two run Home Runs last night. Locke vs. Freeman will be a featured matchup tonight as Freeman is .400 4 HR's 12 RBI's last eleven games and .378 in nine games vs. Pittsburgh at Turner Field. Minor is 7-2 2.48 ERA this season and was 5-0 2.11 ERA in final seven games of the 2012 season. Minor is 4-0 1.98 ERA in last six starts but 0-1 6.00 ERA in two starts vs. Pittsburgh. Gaby Sanchez is .375 ERA and Minor vs. Sanchez will also be a featured matchup. McCuthcen should be back in the Pittsburgh Lineup tonight after a day off. McCutchen's presence and a good outing by Locke may help wash out the bad taste out for a Pirates squad who have lost three of four after winning sixteen of twenty. However Pittsburgh will have to find a way to gain success over a tough Mike Minor at Turner Field. Source: ESPN MLB Preview.
McCann had his 1000th career hit last night and hopefully will bring some of that momentum into tonight's game. Today the focus will be Atlanta -1 -117 looking for Minor to be sharp and Braves to find success vs. a tough Locke maybe by the second go through in the order with McCann, Freeman and Heyward swinging well at the moment. Minor has excellent command and should keep BB's to a minimum hopefully keeping a speedy McCuthcen off the base pads.
are these still major league teams!!!!! are you for real quoting their record against these teams? where were you when they swept cincy,took 3 of 4 off the braves,3 of 4 off the tigers,etc...you say nothing about those wins but you do about all the others....your a real effin ass......learn the game then come back and talk...jerk
also by the way,houston just swept the angels who are considered a dangerous team,but i guess cause they are losing that they are garbage too.....gimmie a break
