Final Score: Pirates 5 Orioles 4 in 11 innings
Why The Pirates Won: Before we get into that, Greg Brown open the game by stating that the Pirates are trying to win games. This was in response to the criticism made by many, including yours truly, of starting Barry (1 hit) Falter. After Brown made this statement, the Pirates did everything they could to try and lose this game but failed. Yesterday I stated, after I wrote that I did not understand why they would start Falter, that he would probably pitch a 1 hitter over 7 innings. He wound up pitching a one hitter over 6 innings and did not come out for the 7th, even though he had thrown only 78 pitches. The bullpen had a bad game for the 2nd time in a row when they could not protect a 3-0 lead over the last 3 innings. The Pirates offense scored 3 runs in the 2nd, with 2 of them scoring on Joey Bart’s home run on his first AB as a Pirate. I was right when I wrote they should give Henry Davis a rest. The Pirates had many other opportunities to add on in this game but did not. In a nutshell they were 3 for 16 with runners in scoring position and left 12 men on base. So, how in the hell did they win this game? First, Barry Falter did pitch a great game, against a very good lineup. Eleven of the 18 outs were either pop outs or fly outs. Even the hit he gave up was a pop up that should have been caught. He walked one and struck out one. After not wanting him to pitch at all, I had to wonder why they took him out after 6 innings. Luis Ortiz did another fantastic job in extra innings and Josh Fleming got his designated left-handed batter out to end the 11th inning. Oneil Cruz walked it off in the bottom of the 11th with a sharp single to right giving the Pirates a 5-4 thrilling win to set up the rubber match today.
The Key Moments Of The Game: There were all the Pirates missed scoring opportunities. Bottom of the 3rd, 1st and 2nd nobody out, did not score. Bottom of the 4th, 2nd and 3rd one out, did not score. Bottom of the 6th, 1st and 2nd with one out, did not score. Bottom of the 8th, 1st and 2nd, one out did not score. Bottom of the 10th, bases loaded nobody out, did not score. It’s a good thing the Pirates won this game. Another big moment of the game came in the top of the 6th. Falter had miraculously thrown a no-hitter through 5 innings. Jorge Mateo led off the 6th by hitting another big pop up out toward short centerfield and 2nd base. Suwinski and Alika Williams let the ball drop between them for a double. Right there you thought the flood gates might open. However, Falter buckled down and got the next 3 outs easily, 2 pop outs and a ground out. I thought he would be out for the 7th, but I also thought he should have not started at all. I was wrong on both counts. If the Pirates would have lost, it certainly would not have been Barry’s fault. See I just can’t help myself. Neither can the Pirates and they are 7-2
Next Game: This afternoon, the Orioles in Pittsburgh. Falter’s performance may be inspiration for the rest of the rotation figuring if he can do it anybody can do it. We will see how Marco Gonzales does this afternoon. This team could be easily 5-4 or even 4-5 but Greg Brown has assured us that the Pirates are trying to win games. I wonder if the other 29 teams are trying to win games also. Well, maybe not the Marlins. Maybe Brown should go announce for the Marlins so he can set them straight. It sure would be nice to win the series today.
The Goofy Game of Golf/Life Searching for the Answer 