Final Score: Pirates 5 Reds 9
How The 2023 Pirates Did: For the third consecutive game only 5 of the 2023 Pirates were in the starting lineup. Brian Reynolds’s bat cooled off going 0 for 5. The other four, Castro, Mercano, Chavis and Delay had 5 hits among them. They also drove in 4 of the 5 runs with Marcano getting 2 RBIs, and Delay and Castro getting one each. Zach Thompson did not pitch a great game but seemed to be doing alright, only throwing 78 pitches through 5 innings, giving up 3 runs. No question, he was dancing through the raindrops and the double play ball was his friend. The fact remains he threw only 78 pitches and should have come out for the 6th inning. We had just had a bullpen game the night before, so it would have made more sense for the starter to go as long as he could go. When it comes to bullpen usage only The Shadow knows. He brings in one of our awful left-hand relievers, Manny Banuelos, and he promptly walks the first two batters. The Reds give us an out. Then Banuelos gives up a single, triple, and single that scores 4 runs to break the game open 7-2. Where do they find these left-hand pitchers.
Key Moment of The Game: It was early in this one. The Pirates had taken the lead in the bottom of the first, 2-1, and had runners on second and third with one out. Greg Allen hit the ball hard, shocking as it may be, but right at the drawn in shortstop and Ben Gamel taking a nap, was easily doubled off third. Again, this just seemed to set the tone for the game. Mike Minor got out of that inning and pitched into the 6th before giving up 3 more runs. By that time, our overworked bullpen was well on its way to losing the game.
Next Game: Tonight, Braves in Pittsburgh. In the last 2 games the Pirate pitching has given up 19 runs, 27 hits, and 8 walks. You are not going to win many games with that run prevention. The bullpen gave up all but 3 of the runs. I can’t wait to have a 1 run lead going to the 9th. It probably won’t happen this week.
The Goofy Game of Golf/Life Searching for the Answer 