Monday, September 22, 2003
Pittsburgh defeated Cincinnati 7-0 on a three-hitter.
PITTSBURGH (AP) -- Only a few people showed up to see a late-season game between the Pirates and Reds, two teams well out of playoff contention.
Those who did nearly saw a perfect game.
Pittsburgh right-hander Kip Wells retired his first 17 batters and combined with Brian Meadows on a three-hitter, leading the Pirates to a 7-0 victory Thursday.
The game was moved from 7:05 p.m. to 12:35 p.m. in anticipation of bad weather related to Hurricane Isabel. While the announced attendance was 10,390, it appeared only a few thousand were on hand.
"It was different, but it was kind of fun," Pirates shortstop Jack Wilson said. "You got to hear what a lot of people had to say, a lot of opinions."
Pitcher got first hit
Wells (9-8) didn't allow a hit until two outs in the sixth, when Cincinnati reliever Scott Randall (2-3) singled to right on an 0-1 pitch.
It was Randall's first major-league at-bat. He hit near .300 with the Reds' Triple-A farm team in Louisville but wasn't the most confident hitter against Wells.
"That ball wasn't smoked by any means," Randall said.
Wells was going against a watered-down Reds lineup that was without first baseman Sean Casey and center fielder Ryan Freel.
That's why Pirates manager Lloyd McClendon figured Wells had a good shot at the no-hitter.
"It certainly crossed my mind," McClendon said. "That's how well he was pitching. He really did an outstanding job. He had real good command. He was very aggressive, and he shut them down."
Wells was glad the game time was moved up.
"I got into a good rhythm early on and really fed off that," he said. "I tried to work fast and throw strikes. I think the time change worked to my advantage. I think the hitters were a little off early. I tried to exploit that."
Sore foot
Wells allowed two hits in seven innings, struck out four and walked two. He had been 0-3 against the Reds. He threw only 93 pitches but was removed from the game because of soreness in the ball of his right foot.
"He certainly would have stayed in the game [if the no-hitter was alive], but I didn't want to push him," McClendon said.
Wells has won four of his past five starts and has established himself as the Pirates' clear-cut No. 1 pitcher.
"He's just been very effective," McClendon said. "He's gone out and executed his pitches."
Pittsburgh won three of four in the series, and improved to 37-40 at home. The Pirates have a chance for their first winning record at PNC Park, which opened in 2001. Four home games remain on the schedule, starting today with a doubleheader against the Chicago Cubs.
Reds starter John Bale left after he strained his right hamstring running out a grounder in the top of the third. Randall came in and pitched 31/3 innings, giving up four runs and five hits.
Pittsburgh took a 4-0 lead in the sixth when Randall threw a wild pitch with the bases loaded, intentionally walked Craig Wilson, forced in a run with a walk to pinch-hitter Rob Mackowiak, then allowed a two-run single to pinch-hitter Matt Stairs.