Watch the match USA - MLB between Pittsburgh Pirates vs Cincinnati Reds.With the way he has pitched in his last two starts, it's hard to believe that Reds right-hander Johnny Cueto spent the first month of the season on the disabled list.
Plagued by right biceps and triceps irritation that began affecting him toward the end of Spring Training, Cueto didn't make his 2011 debut until May 8. All he has done in two outings since his return is toss 13 2/3 innings without giving up an earned run, and, more importantly for the Reds, notch a pair of wins.
Reds catcher Ramon Hernandez has noticed a sharper concentration from Cueto.
"I think he's more focused with his pitching," Hernandez said. "Sometimes if he throws a walk or a couple of bad pitches, he'll come back and make a pitch to get out of the jam. That's big for him. He'll get in a jam but keeps his focus and tries to make a pitch to get out of it."
Cueto will aim for win No. 3 at Great American Ball Park on Thursday, when the Reds take on right-hander James McDonald and the Pirates, who are hoping to reverse a familiar trend of struggles in May.
Since the Pirates moved above .500 (18-17) on May 9, they had lost six straight before snapping the skid with a win, 5-0, over the Reds on Wednesday. Pittsburgh has finished with an 11-18 record in May each of the last two seasons. The Pirates, led by manager Clint Hurdle, are trying to keep the skid in perspective.
"A week ago, there were many people that thought we were better," Hurdle said. "And now, a week later, there are people that are sad. I get it. I told [the players] -- it's a week. That's exactly what it is. It's one week. It's like I tell [the players] every night, I expect to win. We need to expect to win."
The Pirates can look at their last trip to Cincinnati, when they took three of four from the Reds from April 15-18, for a blueprint of earlier success.
"We did have success here," Hurdle said. "It was one of our better series all around -- pitching, defense and offense. We know what we're capable of. This is a good [Cincinnati] ballclub over here. They've played extremely well since we left."
Pirates: McDonald hoping to bounce back
McDonald struggled mightily while going 0-2 with a 10.13 ERA in his first four starts, but he bounced back by giving up just two earned runs in his next three, a span of 18 innings.
The right-hander, though, fell into trouble again his last time out on Friday, when he lasted just four innings, giving up five runs on six hits.
Reds: Baker likes Cueto's approach
The strikeout will always be a part of Cueto's game, but the right-hander is learning to rely on other ways to get hitters out.
"When you're young like those guys, you're used to striking everybody out," Baker said. "Most of them struck everybody out since they were a kid. Then you learn. Sometimes you need a strikeout. Sometimes you need a double play. Sometimes you need a groundball double play. Sometimes you don't mind throwing up a two-out fly ball to a guy who can't hit the ball out of the ballpark."
Worth noting
• Thursday's game will mark the Pirates' last contest in Cincinnati this season. It will be the earliest Pittsburgh has wrapped up its season series in Cincy since 1981.
• Since the Pirates took three-of-four from the Reds from April 15-18, the two teams have gone in opposite directions. Pittsburgh is 11-15 since that series, while Cincinnati is 16-11.the game started on Thursday May 19,2011.Only here in the right place to watch sports channels free online tv broadcast and the information we provide is completely free of charge directly without credit card or whatever. only at www.sporttvonlinetoday.blogsot.com.
Plagued by right biceps and triceps irritation that began affecting him toward the end of Spring Training, Cueto didn't make his 2011 debut until May 8. All he has done in two outings since his return is toss 13 2/3 innings without giving up an earned run, and, more importantly for the Reds, notch a pair of wins.
Reds catcher Ramon Hernandez has noticed a sharper concentration from Cueto.
"I think he's more focused with his pitching," Hernandez said. "Sometimes if he throws a walk or a couple of bad pitches, he'll come back and make a pitch to get out of the jam. That's big for him. He'll get in a jam but keeps his focus and tries to make a pitch to get out of it."
Cueto will aim for win No. 3 at Great American Ball Park on Thursday, when the Reds take on right-hander James McDonald and the Pirates, who are hoping to reverse a familiar trend of struggles in May.
Since the Pirates moved above .500 (18-17) on May 9, they had lost six straight before snapping the skid with a win, 5-0, over the Reds on Wednesday. Pittsburgh has finished with an 11-18 record in May each of the last two seasons. The Pirates, led by manager Clint Hurdle, are trying to keep the skid in perspective.
"A week ago, there were many people that thought we were better," Hurdle said. "And now, a week later, there are people that are sad. I get it. I told [the players] -- it's a week. That's exactly what it is. It's one week. It's like I tell [the players] every night, I expect to win. We need to expect to win."
The Pirates can look at their last trip to Cincinnati, when they took three of four from the Reds from April 15-18, for a blueprint of earlier success.
"We did have success here," Hurdle said. "It was one of our better series all around -- pitching, defense and offense. We know what we're capable of. This is a good [Cincinnati] ballclub over here. They've played extremely well since we left."
Pirates: McDonald hoping to bounce back
McDonald struggled mightily while going 0-2 with a 10.13 ERA in his first four starts, but he bounced back by giving up just two earned runs in his next three, a span of 18 innings.
The right-hander, though, fell into trouble again his last time out on Friday, when he lasted just four innings, giving up five runs on six hits.
Reds: Baker likes Cueto's approach
The strikeout will always be a part of Cueto's game, but the right-hander is learning to rely on other ways to get hitters out.
"When you're young like those guys, you're used to striking everybody out," Baker said. "Most of them struck everybody out since they were a kid. Then you learn. Sometimes you need a strikeout. Sometimes you need a double play. Sometimes you need a groundball double play. Sometimes you don't mind throwing up a two-out fly ball to a guy who can't hit the ball out of the ballpark."
Worth noting
• Thursday's game will mark the Pirates' last contest in Cincinnati this season. It will be the earliest Pittsburgh has wrapped up its season series in Cincy since 1981.
• Since the Pirates took three-of-four from the Reds from April 15-18, the two teams have gone in opposite directions. Pittsburgh is 11-15 since that series, while Cincinnati is 16-11.the game started on Thursday May 19,2011.Only here in the right place to watch sports channels free online tv broadcast and the information we provide is completely free of charge directly without credit card or whatever. only at www.sporttvonlinetoday.blogsot.com.
Pittsburgh Pirates vs Cincinnati Reds
Thursday ( 19 May ) 18:35 (GMT +2)
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