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The Juice: New hero emerges as Pirates’ uprising continues
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<blockquote data-quote="admin" data-source="post: 2572700" data-attributes="member: 1"><p><em><img src="http://l.yimg.com/a/p/sp/editorial_image/5b/5bed710b07a2c2a0a4924890a841001c/the_juice_new_hero_emerges_as_pirates_uprising_continues.jpg" alt="" class="fr-fic fr-dii fr-draggable " data-size="" style="" /></em></p><p><em></em></p><p> <em>Nine innings, nine items to get you going. Ladies and gentlemen of the Stew, take a sip of morning Juice.</em></p><p></p><p> <strong>1. Meet <a href="http://sports.yahoo.com/mlb/players/8819/" target="_blank">Michael McKenry</a>: </strong>One month ago he was the back-up catcher with the <a href="http://sports.yahoo.com/mlb/teams/bos/" target="_blank">Boston Red Sox</a> Triple-A club in Pawtucket. Today, he could run for mayor of Pittsburgh after punctuating the Pirates four-run eighth inning rally with his first career home run —*<a href="http://mlb.com/video/play.jsp?content_id=16769411" target="_blank">a three-run shot</a> off <a href="http://sports.yahoo.com/mlb/teams/chc/" target="_blank">Chicago Cubs</a> closer <a href="http://sports.yahoo.com/mlb/players/7789/" target="_blank">Carlos Marmol</a> —*which helped his new team secure a dramatic <a href="http://sports.yahoo.com/mlb/recap?gid=310708123" target="_blank">7-4 win</a>.</p><p></p><p> I'd say that gives young Michael hero status, wouldn't you?</p><p></p><p style="margin-left: 20px">"I don't know about being the hero," McKenry said. "There were eight other innings where guys just battled their brains out."</p> <p style="margin-left: 20px"></p> <p style="margin-left: 20px"></p><p>And a humble lad. Looks like he'll fit in nicely with what manager Clint Hurdle is rebuilding in the Steel City.</p><p></p><p> <strong>2. Kotsay once, Kotsay twice: </strong>Pittsburgh's win had them in position to climb into a first place tie, but the <a href="http://sports.yahoo.com/mlb/teams/mil/" target="_blank">Milwaukee Brewers</a> held on to their slim division lead, twice rallying to overcome the <a href="http://sports.yahoo.com/mlb/teams/cin/" target="_blank">Cincinnati Reds</a>, <a href="http://sports.yahoo.com/mlb/recap?gid=310708108" target="_blank">8-7</a>. <a href="http://sports.yahoo.com/mlb/players/5846/" target="_blank">Mark Kotsay</a> played a big role in both rallies. His <a href="http://mlb.com/video/play.jsp?content_id=16765367" target="_blank">solo home run</a> capped a three-run inning in the fifth. He then delivered a <a href="http://mlb.com/video/play.jsp?content_id=16775903" target="_blank">two-out, two-run single</a> off <a href="http://sports.yahoo.com/mlb/players/6300/" target="_blank">Francisco Cordero</a> in ninth to send the crowd home happy.</p><p></p><p> <strong>3. Two's company:</strong> The Pirates do have some company is second place, however. <a href="http://sports.yahoo.com/mlb/players/7558/" target="_blank">Kelly Johnson</a> broke a seventh inning tie with his <a href="http://mlb.com/video/play.jsp?content_id=16767487" target="_blank">second grand slam of 2011</a>, and the <a href="http://sports.yahoo.com/mlb/teams/ari/" target="_blank">Arizona Diamondbacks</a> held on to defeat the <a href="http://sports.yahoo.com/mlb/teams/stl/" target="_blank">St. Louis Cardinals</a>, <a href="http://sports.yahoo.com/mlb/recap?gid=310708124" target="_blank">7-6</a>. That drops the Redbirds into a virtual tie with Pittsburgh, one game behind the pace-setting Brew Crew. </p><p></p><p> <strong>4. Not what the Proctor ordered:</strong> There aren't too many weak spots in the <a href="http://sports.yahoo.com/mlb/teams/atl/" target="_blank">Atlanta Braves</a> bullpen. After 9+ innings and five Braves relievers were used, <a href="http://sports.yahoo.com/mlb/players/5665/" target="_blank">Raul Ibanez</a> found one of them, depositing <a href="http://sports.yahoo.com/mlb/players/7237/" target="_blank">Scott Proctor's</a> 2-0 pitch <a href="http://mlb.com/video/play.jsp?content_id=16778137" target="_blank">into the right field seats</a> to give the <a href="http://sports.yahoo.com/mlb/teams/phi/" target="_blank">Philadelphia Phillies</a> a <a href="http://sports.yahoo.com/mlb/recap?gid=310708122" target="_blank">3-2 win in 10 innings</a>.</p><p></p><p> <strong>5. Heavy hearts:</strong> On a difficult night for everybody involved, the <a href="http://sports.yahoo.com/mlb/teams/tex/" target="_blank">Texas Rangers</a> were able to jump out to a 7-0 lead thanks to <a href="http://mlb.com/video/play.jsp?content_id=16752151" target="_blank">a grand slam</a> from <a href="http://sports.yahoo.com/mlb/players/7754/" target="_blank">Mike Napoli</a> and solo homers from <a href="http://sports.yahoo.com/mlb/players/7490/" target="_blank">Ian Kinsler</a> and <a href="http://sports.yahoo.com/mlb/players/6039/" target="_blank">Adrian Beltre</a>. <a href="http://sports.yahoo.com/mlb/players/7571/" target="_blank">C.J. Wilson</a> made the early lead stand up, limiting the Oakland A's to four runs over seven innings in the <a href="http://sports.yahoo.com/mlb/recap?gid=310708113" target="_blank">8-5 triumph</a> for Texas.</p><p></p><p> <strong>6. Can't quit while you're ahead</strong>: An <a href="http://mlb.com/video/play.jsp?content_id=16749883" target="_blank">eight-run first inning</a> was all the Boston Red Sox would need in their <a href="http://sports.yahoo.com/mlb/recap?gid=310708102" target="_blank">10-3 victory</a> over the <a href="http://sports.yahoo.com/mlb/teams/bal/" target="_blank">Baltimore Orioles</a>. Unfortunately, they were forced to play the game out, losing starter <a href="http://sports.yahoo.com/mlb/players/6403/" target="_blank">Josh Beckett</a> to a*<a href="http://www.boston.com/sports/baseball/redsox/extras/extra_bases/2011/07/beckett_tweaks.html" target="_blank">hyperextended left knee</a> along the way. He'll be reevaluated on Saturday.</p><p></p><p> Oh, and you may have heard about the <a href="http://sports.yahoo.com/mlb/blog/big_league_stew/post/Beantown-Brawl-David-Ortiz-Kevin-Gregg-come-to?urn=mlb-wp12017" target="_blank">little disagreement</a> between <a href="http://sports.yahoo.com/mlb/players/5909/" target="_blank">David Ortiz</a> and <a href="http://sports.yahoo.com/mlb/players/7206/" target="_blank">Kevin Gregg</a>.</p><p></p><p> <strong>7. Not tonight, Pronk:</strong> There would be no repeat of <a href="http://sports.yahoo.com/mlb/players/6980/" target="_blank">Travis Hafner's</a> <a href="http://sports.yahoo.com/mlb/blog/big_league_stew/post/-8216-Pronk-8217-you-very-much-Indians-8217?urn=mlb-wp11934" target="_blank">epic game-winning grand slam</a> for the <a href="http://sports.yahoo.com/mlb/teams/cle/" target="_blank">Cleveland Indians</a>. <a href="http://sports.yahoo.com/mlb/players/8304/" target="_blank">Travis Snider</a> made sure of that, <a href="http://mlb.com/video/play.jsp?content_id=16780795" target="_blank">driving in five runs</a> with three big hits. As did <a href="http://sports.yahoo.com/mlb/teams/tor/" target="_blank">Toronto Blue Jays</a> pitching, who held Pronk hitless in five plate appearances in their <a href="http://sports.yahoo.com/mlb/recap?gid=310708105" target="_blank">11-7 victory</a>.</p><p></p><p> <strong>8. Hide the breakables:</strong> Angry <a href="http://sports.yahoo.com/mlb/players/7743/" target="_blank">Brian Wilson</a> is on the prowl again after serving up Scott Hairson's <a href="http://mlb.com/video/play.jsp?content_id=16780169" target="_blank">pinch-hit, tie-breaking home run</a> leading off the <a href="http://sports.yahoo.com/mlb/teams/nym/" target="_blank">New York Mets</a> ninth. An <a href="http://sports.yahoo.com/mlb/players/6901/" target="_blank">Andres Torres</a> error would lead to two more runs in the frame for New York,*which helped*them dispose of the <a href="http://sports.yahoo.com/mlb/teams/sfo/" target="_blank">San Francisco Giants</a>, <a href="http://sports.yahoo.com/mlb/recap?gid=310708126" target="_blank">5-2</a>.</p><p></p><p> <strong>9. Balkin' Bob strikes again:</strong> It wasn't another <a href="http://sports.yahoo.com/mlb/blog/big_league_stew/post/Balk-off-balk-Mets-fall-in-10-on-Carrasco-8217?urn=mlb-wp9717" target="_blank">balk-off balk</a>, but <a href="http://sports.yahoo.com/mlb/players/8963/" target="_blank">Ryan Mattheus'</a> fourth inning twitch —*<a href="http://mlb.com/video/play.jsp?content_id=16750289" target="_blank">as called by Bob Davidson</a> —*allowed <a href="http://sports.yahoo.com/mlb/players/5870/" target="_blank">Todd Helton</a> to cross with a difference-making run in the <a href="http://sports.yahoo.com/mlb/teams/col/" target="_blank">Colorado Rockies</a> <a href="http://sports.yahoo.com/mlb/recap?gid=310708120" target="_blank">3-2 win</a> over the <a href="http://sports.yahoo.com/mlb/teams/was/" target="_blank">Washington Nationals</a>.</p></blockquote><p></p>
[QUOTE="admin, post: 2572700, member: 1"] [I][IMG]http://l.yimg.com/a/p/sp/editorial_image/5b/5bed710b07a2c2a0a4924890a841001c/the_juice_new_hero_emerges_as_pirates_uprising_continues.jpg[/IMG] Nine innings, nine items to get you going. Ladies and gentlemen of the Stew, take a sip of morning Juice.[/I] [B]1. Meet [URL="http://sports.yahoo.com/mlb/players/8819/"]Michael McKenry[/URL]: [/B]One month ago he was the back-up catcher with the [URL="http://sports.yahoo.com/mlb/teams/bos/"]Boston Red Sox[/URL] Triple-A club in Pawtucket. Today, he could run for mayor of Pittsburgh after punctuating the Pirates four-run eighth inning rally with his first career home run —*[URL="http://mlb.com/video/play.jsp?content_id=16769411"]a three-run shot[/URL] off [URL="http://sports.yahoo.com/mlb/teams/chc/"]Chicago Cubs[/URL] closer [URL="http://sports.yahoo.com/mlb/players/7789/"]Carlos Marmol[/URL] —*which helped his new team secure a dramatic [URL="http://sports.yahoo.com/mlb/recap?gid=310708123"]7-4 win[/URL]. I'd say that gives young Michael hero status, wouldn't you? [INDENT]"I don't know about being the hero," McKenry said. "There were eight other innings where guys just battled their brains out." [/INDENT] And a humble lad. Looks like he'll fit in nicely with what manager Clint Hurdle is rebuilding in the Steel City. [B]2. Kotsay once, Kotsay twice: [/B]Pittsburgh's win had them in position to climb into a first place tie, but the [URL="http://sports.yahoo.com/mlb/teams/mil/"]Milwaukee Brewers[/URL] held on to their slim division lead, twice rallying to overcome the [URL="http://sports.yahoo.com/mlb/teams/cin/"]Cincinnati Reds[/URL], [URL="http://sports.yahoo.com/mlb/recap?gid=310708108"]8-7[/URL]. [URL="http://sports.yahoo.com/mlb/players/5846/"]Mark Kotsay[/URL] played a big role in both rallies. His [URL="http://mlb.com/video/play.jsp?content_id=16765367"]solo home run[/URL] capped a three-run inning in the fifth. He then delivered a [URL="http://mlb.com/video/play.jsp?content_id=16775903"]two-out, two-run single[/URL] off [URL="http://sports.yahoo.com/mlb/players/6300/"]Francisco Cordero[/URL] in ninth to send the crowd home happy. [B]3. Two's company:[/B] The Pirates do have some company is second place, however. [URL="http://sports.yahoo.com/mlb/players/7558/"]Kelly Johnson[/URL] broke a seventh inning tie with his [URL="http://mlb.com/video/play.jsp?content_id=16767487"]second grand slam of 2011[/URL], and the [URL="http://sports.yahoo.com/mlb/teams/ari/"]Arizona Diamondbacks[/URL] held on to defeat the [URL="http://sports.yahoo.com/mlb/teams/stl/"]St. Louis Cardinals[/URL], [URL="http://sports.yahoo.com/mlb/recap?gid=310708124"]7-6[/URL]. That drops the Redbirds into a virtual tie with Pittsburgh, one game behind the pace-setting Brew Crew. [B]4. Not what the Proctor ordered:[/B] There aren't too many weak spots in the [URL="http://sports.yahoo.com/mlb/teams/atl/"]Atlanta Braves[/URL] bullpen. After 9+ innings and five Braves relievers were used, [URL="http://sports.yahoo.com/mlb/players/5665/"]Raul Ibanez[/URL] found one of them, depositing [URL="http://sports.yahoo.com/mlb/players/7237/"]Scott Proctor's[/URL] 2-0 pitch [URL="http://mlb.com/video/play.jsp?content_id=16778137"]into the right field seats[/URL] to give the [URL="http://sports.yahoo.com/mlb/teams/phi/"]Philadelphia Phillies[/URL] a [URL="http://sports.yahoo.com/mlb/recap?gid=310708122"]3-2 win in 10 innings[/URL]. [B]5. Heavy hearts:[/B] On a difficult night for everybody involved, the [URL="http://sports.yahoo.com/mlb/teams/tex/"]Texas Rangers[/URL] were able to jump out to a 7-0 lead thanks to [URL="http://mlb.com/video/play.jsp?content_id=16752151"]a grand slam[/URL] from [URL="http://sports.yahoo.com/mlb/players/7754/"]Mike Napoli[/URL] and solo homers from [URL="http://sports.yahoo.com/mlb/players/7490/"]Ian Kinsler[/URL] and [URL="http://sports.yahoo.com/mlb/players/6039/"]Adrian Beltre[/URL]. [URL="http://sports.yahoo.com/mlb/players/7571/"]C.J. Wilson[/URL] made the early lead stand up, limiting the Oakland A's to four runs over seven innings in the [URL="http://sports.yahoo.com/mlb/recap?gid=310708113"]8-5 triumph[/URL] for Texas. [B]6. Can't quit while you're ahead[/B]: An [URL="http://mlb.com/video/play.jsp?content_id=16749883"]eight-run first inning[/URL] was all the Boston Red Sox would need in their [URL="http://sports.yahoo.com/mlb/recap?gid=310708102"]10-3 victory[/URL] over the [URL="http://sports.yahoo.com/mlb/teams/bal/"]Baltimore Orioles[/URL]. Unfortunately, they were forced to play the game out, losing starter [URL="http://sports.yahoo.com/mlb/players/6403/"]Josh Beckett[/URL] to a*[URL="http://www.boston.com/sports/baseball/redsox/extras/extra_bases/2011/07/beckett_tweaks.html"]hyperextended left knee[/URL] along the way. He'll be reevaluated on Saturday. Oh, and you may have heard about the [URL="http://sports.yahoo.com/mlb/blog/big_league_stew/post/Beantown-Brawl-David-Ortiz-Kevin-Gregg-come-to?urn=mlb-wp12017"]little disagreement[/URL] between [URL="http://sports.yahoo.com/mlb/players/5909/"]David Ortiz[/URL] and [URL="http://sports.yahoo.com/mlb/players/7206/"]Kevin Gregg[/URL]. [B]7. Not tonight, Pronk:[/B] There would be no repeat of [URL="http://sports.yahoo.com/mlb/players/6980/"]Travis Hafner's[/URL] [URL="http://sports.yahoo.com/mlb/blog/big_league_stew/post/-8216-Pronk-8217-you-very-much-Indians-8217?urn=mlb-wp11934"]epic game-winning grand slam[/URL] for the [URL="http://sports.yahoo.com/mlb/teams/cle/"]Cleveland Indians[/URL]. [URL="http://sports.yahoo.com/mlb/players/8304/"]Travis Snider[/URL] made sure of that, [URL="http://mlb.com/video/play.jsp?content_id=16780795"]driving in five runs[/URL] with three big hits. As did [URL="http://sports.yahoo.com/mlb/teams/tor/"]Toronto Blue Jays[/URL] pitching, who held Pronk hitless in five plate appearances in their [URL="http://sports.yahoo.com/mlb/recap?gid=310708105"]11-7 victory[/URL]. [B]8. Hide the breakables:[/B] Angry [URL="http://sports.yahoo.com/mlb/players/7743/"]Brian Wilson[/URL] is on the prowl again after serving up Scott Hairson's [URL="http://mlb.com/video/play.jsp?content_id=16780169"]pinch-hit, tie-breaking home run[/URL] leading off the [URL="http://sports.yahoo.com/mlb/teams/nym/"]New York Mets[/URL] ninth. An [URL="http://sports.yahoo.com/mlb/players/6901/"]Andres Torres[/URL] error would lead to two more runs in the frame for New York,*which helped*them dispose of the [URL="http://sports.yahoo.com/mlb/teams/sfo/"]San Francisco Giants[/URL], [URL="http://sports.yahoo.com/mlb/recap?gid=310708126"]5-2[/URL]. [B]9. Balkin' Bob strikes again:[/B] It wasn't another [URL="http://sports.yahoo.com/mlb/blog/big_league_stew/post/Balk-off-balk-Mets-fall-in-10-on-Carrasco-8217?urn=mlb-wp9717"]balk-off balk[/URL], but [URL="http://sports.yahoo.com/mlb/players/8963/"]Ryan Mattheus'[/URL] fourth inning twitch —*[URL="http://mlb.com/video/play.jsp?content_id=16750289"]as called by Bob Davidson[/URL] —*allowed [URL="http://sports.yahoo.com/mlb/players/5870/"]Todd Helton[/URL] to cross with a difference-making run in the [URL="http://sports.yahoo.com/mlb/teams/col/"]Colorado Rockies[/URL] [URL="http://sports.yahoo.com/mlb/recap?gid=310708120"]3-2 win[/URL] over the [URL="http://sports.yahoo.com/mlb/teams/was/"]Washington Nationals[/URL]. [/QUOTE]
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