Pirates 9 Reds 7

That one started off with just about what you'd expect from Eric Milton and Oliver Perez, a three run homer in the first from Jason LaRue, a bunch of walks and singles (culminating in a two-run single and a STOLEN BASE from Ollie himself) against Milton (who went 2/3s of an inning giving up 6 runs) followed by Ollie giving all of the runs back. We also got to see the Major League debut of Brian Bullington. He came into the game in a tight spot with the bases loaded and two outs in the third with us up 6-5 and the top of the Reds order up, getting a ground out from Ryan Freel to end the threat. He then came out and gave up 2 runs in the next inning to put us behind 7-6. Luckily it was Freddy and Jack to the rescue in the 8th as Freddy tripled in Wigginton, then Jack singled in Freddy and scored later on an Eldred single.

I also have to say, I like the way the closer by comittee has been working. Mike Gonzalez came in in the 8th and set the Reds down, then pitched a 9th to finish the game off. If Gonzo was the "closer" he couldn't come into the game in the 8th, leaving the door open for Rick White or someone else to blow things open beyond the realm of a comeback. This way Gonzo got to keep things close in the 8th, then finish things off in the 9th.

Amazingly enough after our shelling in game one of the double-header we won THREE IN A ROW to take three of four from the Reds and actually win a series. Of course we were 3-9 against the Reds before those three wins with our fate as the only 6th place team in the league already sealed. On the plus side, we're now only 2 wins away from avoiding a 100 loss season. I'd say the 9-4 finish necessary to get to 70 wins is probably out of the question, though.