Pirates pull through in eventful game in Atlanta

The Pirates were able to pull off their second extra inning victory of this young season on Thursday in Atlanta, 4 to 3 over the Braves. Before the game started, poor Mike Hampton of Atlanta suffered yet another injury, this one a strained pectoral muscle that will send him to the Disabled List. Not that I wanted him to have a good start against Pittsburgh, but I certainly feel for the guy. He hasn't pitched since 2005 due to a variety of injuries and he was so good once upon a time that I can't help but pull for him. Anyway, the Pirates had their own injury concerns in this game as well. Jack Wilson left with a strained calf moments after he drove in the tying run in the seventh inning. His injury does not appear too serious and he could return this weekend in Florida. Freddy Sanchez also left the game early due to his lingering shoulder. Manager John Russell called it precautionary though. Hopefully he'll be back tomorrow.

But the most interesting part of the game came in the 10th when Bobby Cox brought in a lefty, Royce Ring, to face Adam LaRoche. Knowing is overused bullpen was running low on available arms, Cox moved his current pitcher, right-hander Chris Respo, to left field while Ring pitched to LaRoche. Ring struck LaRoche out and then Cox moved Respo back to the mound, with right-handed hitter Xavier Nady due up, and summoned a new left fielder from his bench. At that point, position players were more plentiful than pitchers so this would seem to be a smart move. It did backfire to some degree, as Nady drove home the eventual winning run off Respo. I still like this strategy and I was shocked to learn afterwards that this was the first time it's been used in nearly 18 years.

Tonight was also the return of Zach Duke. Well, in the first five innings Duke slightly resembled the phenom he was in 2005. In inning number six, he looked like last year's version. I'm really pulling for this guy, so I hope he can build on this start and return to being, at least, an effective major league starter.