Pirates Morning Report

FINAL SCORE: PIRATES 6 DIAMONDBACKS 8

WHY THE PIRATES LOST: YOU CAN KISS IT GOOD-BYE. THE PIRATE PITCHERS SERVED UP 5 GOPHER BALLS THAT ACCOUNTED FOR 6 OF THE 8 DIAMONDBACKS RUNS. J. T. BRUBAKER SERVED UP 3 OF THEM. THIS PATTERN STARTED AT JUST ABOUT THIS TIME LAST YEAR. BRUBAKER HAD PITCHED PRETTY WELL UNTIL ABOUT THE MIDDLE OF JUNE, IN 2021, AND THEN STARTED GIVING UP THE HOME RUN BALL ON A REGULAR BASIS FOR A TOTAL OF 26. LET’S HOPE THIS IS NOT GOING TO BE A REPEAT PERFORMANCE. THE PIRATE BATS CAME ALIVE FOR 6 RUNS BUT IT WAS NOT ENOUGH, AS THE 3 GAME WINNING STREAK CAME TO AND END.

KEY MOMENT OF THE GAME: THE SCORE WAS TIED 3-3 GOING INTO THE TOP OF THE 5TH, WHEN BRUBAKER DECIDED TO GET INTO BATTING PRACTICE MODE. DOUBLE, HOME RUN, SINGLE, AND FINALLY ANOTHER DOUBLE SENT BRUBAKER TO THE SHOWERS. ANTHONY BANDA CAME IN AND ALMOST GOT OUT OF THE JAM, BUT THEN THREW A WILD PITCH, WHICH GAVE THE DIAMONDBACKS A 6-3 LEAD. TWO MORE HOME RUNS IN THE 7TH MADE IT 8-3. THE PIRATES TRIED TO RALLY IN THE 9TH BUT FELL SHORT 8-6

NEXT GAME: THIS AFTERNOON: DIAMONDBACKS, IN PITTSBURGH. IT WAS NICE TO SEE THE TURTLE BACK IN THE LINE UP, ALWAYS ENTERTAINING. WATCHING HIM RUN FROM 1ST TO 2ND IS SOMETHING TO BEHOLD. IT DOES MAKE YOU WONDER HOW HE COULD PULL ANY MUSCLE. DEREK SHELTON HAS BEEN IN DEEP DEPRESSION, KNOWING HE WON’T BE ABLE TO START JOSH VAN METER FOR A GOOD WHILE. BEN CHERINGTON IS THE SAME WAY, KNOWING THAT SOONER OR LATER HE IS GOING TO HAVE TO ACTIVATE KEVIN NEWMAN. IT’S TOUGH BEING ON THE PIRATE MANAGEMENT TEAM.