Final Score: Pirates 0 Cardinals 3
Why The Pirates Loss: The Pirates defined the meaning of lack of timely hitting. Everyone got a hit but Conner Joe, but nobody got more than one. There were 7 singles and a double by Austin (I did get a hit in April), Hedges. All of this wasted a very good performance by Johan Oviedo who pitched 7 innings, allowing 1 run, 6 hits, 1 walk, while striking out 10, on only 93 pitches. Just think, if Brubaker doesn’t get injured, he is pitching in Indiana. DUJ came in the 8th inning to seal the deal, but to be fair, the Cardinals just hit the ball where the Pirates weren’t. DUJ has never had an ERA under 4 in his career and it’s nice to see he is right back on track. I still don’t see what anybody sees in this guy. The injuries just keep piling up. Chase De Jong has a back issue and Ji Man Choi has left posterior ankle discomfort. Choi does not believe that it will be serious. He probably won’t play until July 4.
Key Moment Of The Game: There was not one key moment of the game, but the overall lack of timely hitting by the Pirates. They had 7 of their 8 hits in the first 5 innings and had nothing to show for it. Even when they got a hit, it did not turn out well. In the top of the 4th, Mark (I don’t understand why I am in the Major Leagues), Mathias hit a sharp line drive single to right, but Canaan Smith-Njigba, who was on 2nd base, was thrown out at the plate to end the inning. In the top of the 5th, with 2 out, and Austin Hedges on 3rd base, Andrew McCutchen hit a hard line drive to left field that was corralled by Tyler O’ Neill. The Pirates have not had much luck lately as they fell to 8-6 on the season.
Next Game: This afternoon, Cardinals in St. Louis. Roansy Contreras will start today and will be looking for a bounce back start. The Pirates will be looking for that 2nd win on the road trip. It is time to be timely again. It’s too early to tell how Derek Shelton will do this year, but it sure would have been nice to see Carlos Santana or Ke’Bryan Hayes bat when the Cardinals brought in the left hander.
The Goofy Game of Golf/Life Searching for the Answer 