Brought to you by WBIW News and Network Indiana
Last updated on Wednesday, July 20, 2011
(UNDATED) - In the National League yesterday, the upstart Pittsburgh Pirates continued to surprise this season with a 1-0 win over the Cincinnati Reds.
Mike Leake and two relievers held the pirates to four hits and the one run, an exceptional day that couldn't prevent the struggling Reds from falling three games below five hundred.
In fact, Pittsburgh's only run came in the first inning on a fielder's choice groundout to shortstop.
Brandon Philips hitting woes continued for Cincinnati.
The second baseman has one hit in his last 19 official at bats.
The Pirates are now first place in the NL Central, while last season's division champs, the Reds, are five games back.
Not playing much better are the St. Louis Cardinals, who lost to the New York Mets, 4-to-2.
The Cardinals grabbed a 1-0 lead in the fifth inning when pitcher Kyle Loshe helped his cause with an RBI single.
In the Mets' half of the fifth, Angel Pagan knocked in Jose Reyes and Justin Turner by doubling off Loshe to deep center field.
Reyes was playing his first game since injuring his hamstring July 2nd.
Daniel Murphy drove in two more runs in the sixth when he also doubled to center field.
Loshe had been removed from the game before Murphy gave the Mets a 4-2 lead, but was responsible for all four runs.
He pitched five and-two-thirds innings and has been pedestrian the last two months following a white start to the season.
The Chicago Cubs bullpen blew another lead in a 4-to-2 loss to the Philadelphia Phillies last night.
Matt Garza had outdueled Cliff Lee to setup a 2-0 shutout for the Cubs.
Sean Marshall, who is the interim closer for Chicago, entered the game in eighth inning with a runner on first base.
After Michael Martinez singled, Chase Utley hit a two-run double to center field for the 2-to-2 tie.
In the ninth inning, Martinez contributed again with a two-run double to give the Phillies a 4-to-2 lead.
In the bottom of the ninth, the Cubs went down in order and all three batter struck out.
Marshall was charged with the blown save after allowing three runs in two innings.
The southpaw had replaced Carlos Marmol as closer following Marmol's demotion for blowing two saves and failing to maintain a tie in four appearances.
1340 AM WBIW welcomes comments and suggestions by calling 812.277.1340 during normal business hours or by email at comments@wbiw.com
© Ad-Venture Media, Inc. All Rights Reserved.