A closer look: Bedard outduels Miley as Pirates shutout D-backs
Aug 7, 2012, 1:17 AM | Updated: 3:12 am
Sure, you could read the box score and know who won, but
we
all
know that won’t tell you everything that happened in a
baseball
game. So, we will give you a closer look, providing you
with
the
analysis, quotes and notes from the D-backs’ August 6
loss to the Pirates.
Final
score: Pirates 4, Diamondbacks 0.
The Good:
Rookie southpaw Wade Miley (12-7) was magnificent on the mound for the Arizona Diamondbacks, but was a victim of no run support.
The 25-year-old tossed six innings, allowing one unearned run on six hits with two strikeouts, in a hard-luck loss to the Pirates.
The Bad:
The D-backs’ bats fell silent against Pirates’ lefty Erik Bedard (6-12).
Bedard, who had lost six of his last seven decisions entering Monday’s game, blanked Arizona over seven impressive innings of work.
The Pirates’ southpaw allowed only two hits, did not walk a batter, and at one point retired 17 straight D-backs.
Arizona struggled not only offensively, but defensively, as well. The D-backs committed two errors in a sloppy fourth inning.
Center fielder Andrew McCutchen, who had two hits and scored two runs for Pittsburgh, led off the fourth with a single. Chris Young bobbled the ball in the outfield, which caused the speedy McCutchen to head for second. After Young’s throw was botched by shortstop Willie Bloomquist, McCutchen was able to reach third safely.
The D-backs’ defensive miscues proved costly after Gaby Sanchez recorded an RBI groundout.
He Said It:
D-backs’ center fielder Chris Young admitted he was mystified by Bedard’s performance Monday.
“I don’t know; he just stayed off the barrel somehow,” Young said. “I thought we had a pretty good approach with him; we just couldn’t get anything going.”
Noted:
The D-backs were shut out for the second time in three days, despite scoring the most runs (106) in the majors since July 18.
Arizona claimed catcher Wil Nieves off waivers from the Colorado Rockies and placed veteran Henry Blanco on the disabled list before the game. Blanco sprained his left thumb in Sunday’s series-finale against the Philadelphia Phillies.
Pittsburgh has now won 23 of its last 29 games at PNC Park.
Coming Up:
The D-backs and Pirates play game two of their three-game series Tuesday night at 4:05 p.m. Right-hander Jeff Karstens (4-2, 3.70) is in search of his fifth straight win for the Pirates. The D-backs will counter with left-hander Patrick Corbin (3-4, 3.60), who impressed in his last start against the Dodgers.
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