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"Unbelievable play," outfielder Brandon Moss called it. "One of the best I've seen all year."
But maybe the part that should have stood out was the bullpen.
Sure, they were handed a four-run lead in the seventh. But, with how things have been dragging along for their three main arms -- Tyler Yates, John Grabow and Matt Capps -- their combined contribution surely was no afterthought.
Yates, charged with eight runs over six appearances, pitched a scoreless seventh despite a double.
Grabow, scored upon in six consecutive appearances, zipped through the eighth with a strikeout and two lineouts.
And Capps, working back from that bruised elbow, bailed out Jesse Chavez in the ninth to record his sixth save, first since April 22.
Chavez had put two aboard with one out, and Pujols, Capps' first batter, lashed an RBI single moments after a towering drive had just gone foul.
Capps apparently was unshaken.
"I told myself I really didn't care what Albert did, so long as I didn't walk him and put the tying run on board," Capps said.
Next was Chris Duncan, and he swung at Capps' first-pitch fastball to bounce into a 4-6-3 double play and end the Pirates' second victory after an eight-game losing streak.
"That's the way itshould be," Yates said. "All three of us have been struggling, but we all got it together here."
The pitching was no less efficient at the outset, though that has been the norm: Ohlendorf improved to 4-3 by limiting St. Louis to one run and two hits over six innings. He would have lasted longer -- the pitch count was 88 -- but Russell lifted him for a pinch-hitter in a key offensive situation.
Ohlendorf leaned on his fastball more than usual but still mixed it up for specific situations, something he is doing as well as anyone on the staff.
"What I use depends on the day, the batter," Ohlendorf said. "I feel comfortable with all my pitches."
A quick 1-0 lead came when Sanchez hit his National League-leading 14th double and, one out later, Adam LaRoche did likewise off the top railing of the Clemente Wall. First base umpire Lance Barksdale initially ruled it a home run, but umpires reversed that after using instant replay, and LaRoche was sent back to second.
Turned out to be historic: It was the first time in Major League Baseball history that a home run was reversed after 13 total reviews -- the rule was implemented last year -- and it was the first review of any kind at PNC Park.
"I would've been shocked if it had stayed," LaRoche said. His home run Tuesday ended a 1-for-30 slide. "When they called it back, I said to myself, 'That's about right.' Just life in general."
St. Louis' Skip Schumaker homered to tie in the fourth, but two more doubles in the bottom half gave the Pirates a 2-1 lead, Brandon Moss and Jack Wilson going back to back.
Three more runs were added in the sixth, still off St. Louis starter Joel Pineiro: Robinzon Diaz was hit by a pitch, then alertly took third base on Andy LaRoche's single that caromed off third baseman Joe Thurston's glove. Moss' forceout scored Diaz.
Russell sought a knockout punch, so he pinch-hit Eric Hinske for Ohlendorf, but Hinske bounced out. Nyjer Morgan, up next, bounced a ball through the middle for two runs, and it was 5-1.
The Pirates will go for the sweep of the first-place Cardinals tonight.
Today
? Game: Pirates vs. St. Louis Cardinals, PNC Park, 7:05 p.m.
? TV: FSN Pittsburgh.
More,
Page D-3
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