Final Score: Pirates 5 Phillies 0
How The 2023 Pirates Did: The big news is they got to play. Nine of the 10 players that started should be on the 2023 Pirates. I consider this nothing short of a miracle. They delivered big time too. I don’t even know where to begin. First, they all got hits. Everybody got one hit with Castro getting 2. They got 4 of the 5 RBI’s. They had 3 triples. I have to give the game ball to Tucupita Marcano. He got 1 hit and drove in 1 run but it was that outstanding defense at 2b that really stood out. In the bottom of the 7th, he started the inning ending double play. Then made 3 good to spectacular plays in the bottom of the 8th getting the assist on all three outs. This allowed DUJ to have a 6 pitch 3 up 3 down inning, another miracle. Then he made another spectacular play to throw out Bryce Harper, to start the bottom of the ninth. It has been a long time, since we have seen plays like that, made at second base. Bravo! Roansy Contreras pitched a solid 5 innings striking out 7, giving up 0 runs, on 3 hits and 2 walks. It was just a grand day for the 2023 Pirates, who finally got to play as a unit. I am sure it will be a while before we see that again as the quest for the no. 2 pick will continue this week.
Key Moment of The Game: In the bottom of the 4th the Phillies got the first two men on base via 2 singles. Then Contreras struck out the next batter and got another one to hit a soft blooping liner to Oneil Cruz. However, he walked the next batter to load the bases with 2 out. On the first pitch to Edmundo Sosa, he hit a line drive, but pretty much right at Bryan Reynolds to end the inning. After that the Phillies never really threatened again, as Contreras and the bullpen only gave up 1 hit and 1 walk the rest of the way. Another lefty added two more shutout innings, which now puts the total at a season high 4 straight innings that left-handed relievers have not given up a run. What has gotten into these guys. Did they read my article? Ha!
Next Game: Tonight, Brewers, in Milwaukee. I am sure we will see the 29 to 30 year old rejects tonight, but that was some fun game yesterday. I know it was only one game, but you can’t take that pure joy away, watching those young guys play ball. We have a little more than a month to go in the season, and I hope we get to see similar lineups at least a few more times. We can only hope.
The Goofy Game of Golf/Life Searching for the Answer 