Friday, April 6, 2012
Pirates pinch hitter Nate McLouth strikes out in front of Phillies catcher Carlos Ruiz during the eighth inning Thursday at PNC Park.
(Christopher Horner/Tribune-Review)
It spoke volumes that a pinch-hit at-bat by Nate McLouth put the biggest charge into the PNC Park-record 39,585 watching the Pirates` 126th season opener Thursday.
Not the strikeout that followed.
The at-bat itself.
It started with polite applause as McLouth was summoned on deck in the eighth inning, the Pirates having a man aboard and trailing the great Roy Halladay and the Phillies by a run. It then grew to a full-throated ovation when McLouth was announced. And by the time he stepped into the box, some folks were standing.
Not just in the stands. You should have seen the home dugout.
"Oh, we were totally into it," fellow outfielder Andrew McCutchen said. "That was awesome."
It was a neat moment. Really was. McLouth was a popular All-Star performer with the Pirates before plunging into Mendoza territory in two-plus seasons with the Braves. People clearly remembered and respected what he did here.
"For these fans to do that … that was so cool," McLouth would say in a quiet clubhouse. "I was trying not to think about it because I was locked into the game. But it means a lot. I just wish it would have been a different outcome."
Right. The outcome.
Turns out McLouth`s smoked liner for a foul ball on Halladay`s first pitch would be one of just four — count `em, four — hard-hit balls all day for the home side. No kidding. Neil Walker and Clint Barmes swatted balls to the track in left, and pitcher Erik Bedard lined out.
It was worse than that, actually. After Alex Presley opened the first inning with a soft single and Jose Tabata reached on a sweet bunt, all the rest of the Pirates` at-bats produced zero runs, zero hits, zero walks, seven balls getting as far as the outfield and, hey, those two hit batsmen.
Where have you gone, Jason Kendall`s elbow guard?
That`s why the fans rose to their feet for McLouth.
That`s also why, in a pleasant surprise, they warmly welcomed struggling Pedro Alvarez for his first at-bat. Funny, but it might have been the Pirates` best all day. Alvarez fought through seven pitches — the most Halladay threw to anyone — before flying out.
"Great at-bat," bench coach Jeff Banister said. "It`s what we want to see."
Pulling hard for struggling players is the stuff of a fan base fully aware that this offense will need to find hits under every overturned couch pillow.
Read more: Kovacevic: Pirates must dig deep for runs - Pittsburgh Tribune-Review http://www.pittsburghlive.com/x/pittsburghtrib/sports/columnists/s_790167.html#ixzz1rFwcKetY
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