Final Score: Pirates 2 Nationals 0
Why The Pirates Won: Mitch Keller pitched a dominant 8 innings giving up only 2 hits and a walk while shutting out the Nationals. The last 22 batters for the Nationals did not get a hit. Both pitchers pitched well with each team getting only 3 at bats with runners in scoring position, with no hits for either team. It would have been nice to see Keller pitch a complete game but the consensus was that he was done, so they brought in the overworked David Bednar to pitch the 9th. Fortunately, he only took 10 pitches to preserve the win. It makes you think that the Pirates do not have any long term use for Bednar. Just use him up and let him go. We will see if they use him tonight if the situation dictates. The Pirate bats weren’t much better getting only 5 hits but 2 of those left the ballpark. Home runs by Jack Suwinski and Alfonso Rivas would give the Pirates the 2 runs they would need.
The Key Moment Of The Game: Right in the top of the first it did not look like that this was going to be such a good day for Keller. He gave up a soft liner for a single on the first pitch of the game. On the 2nd pitch of the game a ground ball to short was dropped by Liover Peguero and the Nationals had runners on 1st and 2nd with no one out. One fly out later, CJ Abrams was picked off 2nd for the second out and Keller struck out the next batter ending the inning. The Nationals never really threatened again the rest of the game getting only one more hit.
Next Game: Tonight, the Yankees in Pittsburgh. Gerrit Cole will start for the Yankees tonight, facing Johan (Dr Jekyll Or Mr. Hyde) Oviedo. You can always hope that Cole will have an off night, but the key to the game will be which Oviedo will be on the mound. The dominant Oviedo, or the uncomfortable, I have gas build up Oviedo. These Yankees are barely above .500. It is not unreasonable to expect the Pirates to take 2 out 3 games, but this game will be the key. Win here, and a sweep is very possible.
The Goofy Game of Golf/Life Searching for the Answer 