Final Score: Pirates 7 Twins 4
Why The Pirates Won: Andrew McCutchen turned back the clock and had a big game going 2 for 5 with a home run and 5 RBI’s. Mitch Keller pitched a solid, but not brilliant, 6 innings giving up 2 runs, 7 hits, walking 1, while striking out 12 batters. The bullpen was shaky throughout but managed to get through the game, preserving the win to even the series. I admit, the way this game started, it looked to me like the Pirates were just going through the motions. They went down in order the first 5 innings with 4 of the first 6 batters striking out. Andrew McCutchen showed what veteran leadership is all about.
The Key Moments Of The Game: The Pirates made the first out in the top of the 6th for the 16th consecutive out. They had just come off of a very frustrating game the night before where they could not drive in any runs. They were trailing 2-0 going into the 6th inning. After they made the first out, things started going their way, big time. Liover Peguero hit a dribbler down the third base line and went to second on a throwing error by the 3rd baseman. Jason Delay hit a little bloop in no man’s land in left center field to put runners on 1st and 3rd with one out. Then, stop the presses, Ji Hwan Bae walked. In fact, double stop the presses, he walked twice in this game, which may be the most significant thing that happened. Bryan Reynolds who had a tough day at the plate struck out on 3 pitches, 2 of which were out of the strike zone. You had to feel that here we go again, another missed opportunity. However, McCutchen found a hole just to the left of the 2nd base bag and it tied the game 2-2. Ke’Bryan (If Bae Can Walk Maybe I Can Start Too) Hayes lined a sharp single to left field and Bae’s speed beat the slightly off target throw, giving the Pirates a 3-2 lead. The Pirates added a run in the 8th and McCutchen hit a huge, in more ways than one, 3 run home run which proved to be the margin of victory. The bullpen barely hung on but did, and the Pirates have a chance at a .500 road trip.
Next Game: This afternoon, Twins in Minnesota. It’s a rubber match today with Pirates looking like they are doing a bullpen game and the Twins trotting out of all people, Dallas Keuchel. Let’s hope he does not find his form today. Even with Keuchel pitching I will be surprised if the Pirates take the series. Those are the kind of surprises that you like however, and my heart is strong.
The Goofy Game of Golf/Life Searching for the Answer 