Power Pros Forum

Pittsburg Pirates @ Cincinatti Reds - Game One of Four

We're live at Great American Ball Park, home of the Cincinatti Reds. The Pirates prepare to face the Reds in a four game series. The winner of this series obviously will place first in the NL Central. Especially, since they're considered the only possible post season contenders.

Now, we present to you Opening Day's pitching matchup:

Aaron Harang will be on the mound for the Reds. He was the National League Cy Young Award Winner. Against him will be King Felix who lead the Majors in wins with eighteen last season.



Not only is this a pitching dual, it is an offensive dual. Both of these teams have one of the best offenses, and it will likely come down to who pulls ahead first.

The Pirates Starting Lineup

1. Carl Crawford - CF
2. Nate McLouth - RF
3. David Wright - 1B
4. Dan Uggla - 2B
5. Cody Ross - LF
6. Chris Snyder - C
7. Ryan Zimmerman - 3B
8. Robinson Cano - SS
9. Felix Hernandez - Pitcher

Cincinatti Reds Starting Lineup

1. Ryan Freel - CF
2. Eric Byrnes - LF
3. Ken Griffey Jr. - RF
4. Edwin Encarnacion - 3B
5. Scott Hatteberg - 1B
6. Ronnie Belliard - 2B
7. Ivan Rodriguez - C
8. Great Kennedy - SS
9. Aaron Harang - Pitcher

Prediction

The Pittsburg Pirates barely come away with the win.

Pirates up 2-0

David Wright is just unstoppable. He is unphased by even the best of pitchers. It continues to show. He may have struggled in Spring Training, but he just belted a long one to left, scoring Crawford and himself, and putting the Pirates up by two after McLouth was robbed of his homerun!

Pirates up 6-0

Well, Wright, Uggla, and McLouth are winning over some fans. Uggla and Wright went deep twice so far in this game, and both times have been back-to-back. However, McLouth wanted to join in on the fun, so he also hit a homerun! For the first time this season, McLouth, Wright, and Uggla have gone back-to-back, allowing the Pirates to get ahead by six!

King Felix gives up three in sixth

Felix Hernandez had a shutout going until he gave up a double to Ken Griffey Jr., who immediatly turned around and started a three run rally. Hernandez, however, was able to regain his confidence and dominance on the mound to put a lid on the rally before any more damage could be inflicted. The current score is 10-3, Pirates.

King Felix Reports Elbow Pain in Seventh; Pulled out for Chamberlain

King Felix reported pain his elbow(s) in the seventh inning with a runner on first. He was pulled from the game and immediatly will undergo MRIs. Joba Chamberlain is set to replace Felix on the mound. For those of you that are wondering, King Felix struck out five an only gave up three runs to finish the game off with an ERA of 3.68.

Pirates win in blowout

What a remarkable performance by Dan Uggla. I swear, this kid only plays to out perform himself and break records. He hit an unbelievable five homeruns, isn't that some kind of record? It should be! He continually carried the Pirates' offense well-beyond his normal call of duty. He was named Player of the Game.

Now, what was more incredible is that Pirates' pitching! They managed to only allow three runs and ten hits compared to the Reds who allowed an incredible fourteen runs and twenty-eight hits!

King Felix got pulled in the seventh after reporting elbow pain. He allowed ten hits, three runs, but he struck out five batters before getting hurt. We have yet to recieve confirmation if his injury is serious or not... we pray to God he can pitch in game four!

Joba Chamberlain. Nough' said. He's talented and incredible. Dominant. The only word that can describe him as he came into finish off the game. He didn't let anyone make clean contact with the ball. He struck out three batters before the game ended.

Now, let's talk more about that Dan Uggla! He's one heck of a batter! Did I tell you he homered five times and is the Player of the Game? I probably did, but I have to say it again!


Dan Uggla! You're the Player of the Game for your five homerun performance! Keep it up and you might hit eight hundred and ten!

Anyway, King Felix walked away with his first victory of the year!

King Felix out for sixteen days

King Felix, ace of the Pirates, is expected to be out for sixteen days. "I don't know what happened," Felix said, "It felt like something snapped in my arm, but it was my elbow that hurt." Medical Doctors told us that he'll be out for sixteen days, but he'll likely be able to pitch in fifteen.

"I'm not enraged about the news." Francona said, "I can deal with it. We have Zach Duke who can be the ace for awhile, and in the meantime we'll call up Phil Dumatrait to give us an extra arm in the pen." As it stands, Phil Dumatrait, a first round draft pick by the Boston Red Sox, will be the swingman for the Pirates as they let Gorzelanny become the sixth man in the rotation.

Pittsburg Pirates @ Cincinatti Reds - Game Two of Four

We saw homerun after homerun by Pittsburg yesterday. They come out today, hoping to do the same thing and come away with a victory. It'll be hard to accomplish as Bronson Arroyo, a pitcher who almost threw a no-hitter against them last year, steps onto the mound for the Reds. However, showdowns are not complete without an equal matchup. Someone who threw two no-hitters is on the mound for the Pirates! His name is ZACH DUKE.

As stated above, Zach Duke will be on the mound for the Bucs. And, Bronson Arroyo will be against him.



Cincinatti Reds Starting Lineup

1. Ryan Freel - CF
2. Eric Byrnes - LF
3. Ken Griffey Jr. - RF
4. Edwin Encarnacion - 3B
5. Scott Hatteberg - 1B
6. Ronnie Belliard - 2B
7. Ivan Rodriguez - C
8. Great Kennedy - SS
9. Bronson Arroyo - P

Pittsburg Pirates Starting Lineup

1. Carl Crawford - CF
2. Nate McLouth - RF
3. David Wright - 1B
4. Dan Uggla - 2B
5. Cody Ross - LF
6. Chris Snyder - C
7. Ryan Zimmerman - 3B
8. Robinson Cano - SS
9. Zach Duke - P

Prediction

Pirates come away with the victory.

Pirates up 2-0; Wright Homers

Carl Crawford popped upto the centerfielder, then McLouth came in and easily made contact, getting himself a single. After that, David Wright stepped in and hit a fat one into the stands! Pirates are up 2-0, deja vu!

Duke Gives up Four Runs; Reds ahead

Zach Duke allowed the Reds to score four times. He remains in the game as Terry Francona remains hopeful that he can regain his composure. The Pirates are upto bat now, however, and look to tie the game up.

Cano Homers; Game Tied

Robinson Cano came in and hit the tying homerun after Ryan Zimmerman flied out to right field.

Duke gives up one; Wright homers

Zach Duke, once again, allowed the Reds to score. However, David Wright responded this time by hitting a homerun that barely made it over the left field wall. The game is currently tied as a powerful, dominant Dan Uggla steps into the batter's box, looking for his second homerun of the game.

Uggla Homers; Pirates up 6-5

Dan Uggla belted his seventh homerun of the year, putting the Pirates up by one.

Duke goes down with elbow pain; Chamberlain comes in, again

This is starting to look a lot like a conspiracy... oh yes it is...

Uggla homers AGAIN

There is no stopping this guy. He continues to put his team ahead with the big fly!