God Among Men

Now, religion should really never mix with sports, but with the stats outfielder Nate McLouth is putting up... McLouth hit arguably his most important homerun of the season on Saturday, lighting up Chicago Cubs' reliever Carlos Marmol for a two-run bomb. McLouth brought in Freddy Sanchez to un-tie the game at five, giving him 36 RBIs on the year. If this man isn't elected as the NL All-Star starting center fielder, I will shoot myself in the foot.

Xavier Nady also has been nothing but clutch. He has come up with timely hits and put the ball in play every time manager John Russell has asked him to do so. He actually gave the Pirates a lead at one point this afternoon, hitting a sac-fly off of Chicago ace Carlos Zambrano.

Nady has also been ailing from a reported tight hammy, but it hasn't slowed the right-fielder down. McLouth and Nady have been a dangerous dynamic duo, giving Pittsburgh two big reasons to "keep the faith" and root for an almost unrootable (historically wise) ball club. 

There was more to this match though then just Nady and McLouth. Starter Zach Duke pitched 6 1/3 innings, keeping the Bucos in the game throughout. He gave up for runs, and while his pitch-to-strike ratio wasn't amazing at 109-69, he pitched a pretty good ball game. 

Zambrano was chased in the fourth by the Bucs' offense, as they scored four times to knock him out. The bullpen held down the 'rats until the infamous ninth inning where, well, Nat'ey' did his thing. 

Closer Matt Capps, as he unusually has been doing all season, made the game tighter then it should've been. In the bottom of the ninth, he gave up a two-out double to Alfonso Soriano, accounting for his fifth hit in as many at-bats. Shortstop Ryan Theriot singled Soriano in, sitting at first as the tying run. But, alls well that ends well, as Derek Lee lined out to Xavier Nady to wrap up the fantastic Buc victory, 7-6.

Notable Mention(s): This is no Cub blog, but Mr. Soriano has become the new Pirate killer.  For the second straight game, Alfonso homered twice off Pirate pitching. He has video-game type numbers against the Buccaneers, driving in 15 runs in 78 at-bats. Nine of his ten homers have come against Pittsburgh, showing his dominance against the NL Central division rival. 

Doug Mientkiewicz, who went 1-for-3 with a run scored and an RBI hit, started in place of 3B Jose Bautista for the third consecutive day. Bautista isn't injured, but Russell would like to see him practice his approach at the plate. With the win today, the Pirates won their first of eight against the Cubbies. Without their seven losses to Chicago, the Bucs would be  21-15.

Do I even mention it? Is it worth being slated as "notable?" If they push out a victory in the Windy City finale, the Pirates will be at .500. Yes, .500. Can they do it? Who the hell knows.