Saturday Night At The Ball Game; The Pirates Have Won Five In A Row? Get The Hell Out Of Here

Quietly, very quietly in fact, the Pirates have put together a nice little winning streak. It currently sits at five and they are now just a mere two games under .500. Somewhat amazing when you consider they have the worst team ERA in the league and perhaps, position-by-position, the worst starting infield through a month-and-a-half.

If there's a positive to having a baseball team that's lost for 15 consecutive seasons, it's that you can buy two tickets directly behind home plate, the day of the game, for $16.

Before the game the Army Golden Knights parachute team had seven maniacs launch themselves from a plane.


Insanity.

Tom Gorzelanny was starting for the Pirates on Saturday, and this season that has usually meant a lot of runs for the other team, and an easy loss for the Pirates. It didn't look like Saturday would be any different when, in the top of the first inning, Braves' first baseman Mark Teixerra hit a mammoth 2-run home run well into the left field bleachers. Jason Bay didn't even move. He just sort of turned around and watch it sail into the night. Then, following that, Gorzelanny walked Jeff Francouer -- a difficult task -- and managed to escape the inning with no more damage.

And then things took a turn. Gorzelanny pitched like the guy we saw last year. Getting ground balls, throwing strikes, getting the occasional strikeout. The Braves would never score again.

The Pirates cut the deficit in half in the bottom of the second when, following a lead off double by Jason Bay, and a double steal involving Bay and Adam Laroche, Ronnie Paulino hit a sacrifice fly to center. The run was a nice little achievement for the Pirates, as Chuck James, the Braves' starting pitcher, shut out the Pirates in 14 innings of work last season, including a near-perfect game at PNC Park. Baby steps, boys. Baby steps.

In the bottom of the fourth, Jason Michaels -- hitting third?!? -- led off with a single to right, and was followed by Bay crushing a 2-run homer to right-center field. It's nice to see Bay hitting doubles, opposite field home runs and stealing bases. That's the player we remember. Not that Shawn Green clone we were treated to last season.



Check out the shift the Pirates put on for Braves' catcher Brian McCann. It looks like Freddy Sanchez is playing rover. But, hey...it worked as McCann did ground out to him in shallow right field. Trouble is, the throw was so long for Sanchez that he bounced it to Laroche.


And the Braves outfield, clearly fearing the hitting prowess of pitcher Tom Gorzelanny (4-for-93 in his career).


Ronny Paulino added some insurance runs for the Pirates in the bottom of the sixth with a 2-run, 2-out double to right-center. I have no picture, I wasn't expecting him to do anything.

The Pirates turned four double plays behind Gorzelanny, including one started by Gorz when he snagged a line drive hit right at his face. It was self defense. If he wouldn't have caught his face would probably be stuck to the ball.

Efficient work from the Pirates' bullpen as Frankie Osoria's rubber arm of suck and Matt Capps finished off the final 1 2/3 innings on just 11 pitches.

Victory.


More victory. Enjoy it while we can.


And there was much partying in the streets! No. Not really.