Final Score: Pirates 1 Phillies 5
Why The Pirates Lost: No offense and the pitching gave up 3 home runs that accounted for all 5 Phillies runs. Each team had 7 hits and Pirates even added 2 walks. The difference was all of the Pirates hits were singles and well-spaced out. The Pirates were only retired in order twice. They had chances to get an inning going but there was no 2 out lightening in this game. They struck out 14 times with Andrew McCutchen and Michael Taylor leading the way with 3 each. All of McCutchen’s were called third strikes and at least Taylor got a hit in the 9th which contributed to the Pirates only run. Jared Jones gave the Pirates their 7th quality start in a row giving up 1 run in 6 innings, but the 7th inning did him in, giving up a 2-run homer to Brandon Marsh allowing the Phillies to take a 3-0 lead. Colin Holderman came in to relieve Jones and promptly gave up another 2-run home run, after another Pirate outfield miscommunication, which pretty much sealed the deal. The sad thing is the Pirates kept the Phillies stars pretty much in check. Scharber, Turner, Harper and Realmuto went 3 for 16 with 6 strikeouts. The Pirate record fell to 9-4 to put them in second place in the Central.
Key Moments Of The Game: It was the Pirates inability to get any type of offensive momentum. They were 1 for 6 with runners in scoring position and left 8 men on base. On the other hand, Phillies only had 3 ABs with runners in scoring position and got a home run to drive in 2 runs. They only left 2 men on base. Oh, the power of the long ball. The home runs of spring training for the Pirates when they led all teams, has gone the way of most things in spring training down into the deep abyss. The Pirates are still below average in home runs hit this year. Six more road games to go.
Next Game: Tonight, Phillies in Philadelphia. Barry (Was That Last Start A Fluke) Falter will take the mound for the Pirates hoping to break the 2-game losing streak. With Falter starting tonight this emphasizes Greg Brown’s point the last time Falter started, the Pirates are trying to win games. This eases by beating heart to know this. The Pirates are going to face another left hander in Christopher Sanchez. As I have written before, we all know that offense is a sometime thing, but hopefully this is not the start of a Pirate offensive slump. The last 2 games they have scored 4 runs. It still will be interesting to see how Falter does tonight. Will he be able to keep the ball inside the fences? Should be the key to victory.
The Goofy Game of Golf/Life Searching for the Answer 