Final Score: Pirates 3 Phillies 4
Why The Pirates Lost: For one of the few times this year the bullpen failed miserably. The offense was just plain offensive. Oneil Cruz did hit a 2-run homer to drive in 2 runs which at the time gave the Pirates a 3-2 lead in the top of the 5th with no one out. Bryan Reynolds walked and from that point on in the last 5 innings of the game, the Pirates sent 16 men to the plate getting one walk, erased on a double play and a single, striking out 7 times. To say they did not threaten the rest of the game would be an understatement. They were able to get 5 walks, but the Pirate staff outdid them by giving up 7. Chapman for the second straight game had control issues and this time it cost them the lead. Marco Gonzales got the quality start string going again by going 6 innings giving up 2 runs, on 6 hits, walking 3 while striking out 5. There is no question the bats have been in a funk and the pitching, while very good, has not been good enough to overcome it most of the time. The Pirates fell to 10-5 and remain in 2nd place.
Key Moment Of The Game: The bottom of the 9th with the game tied 3-3, Jose Hernandez quickly got ahead of Kyle Schwarber 0-2 but then threw a slider belt high toward the outside of the plate and Schwarber pulled it into right field for a base hit. Hernandez battled Trea Turner after falling behind 3-0 to get the count to 3-2, but after one foul ball, walked him to put runners on 1st and 2nd with nobody out. Even though he struck out Bryce Harper, his first pitch, ruled a wild pitch, got away from Henry Davis and the Phillies had runners on 2nd and 3rd with just one out. Roansy Contreras was brought on and after an intentional walk, the struggling Nick Castellanos, who had already driven in one run, lifted a fly ball over the drawn in outfield to win the game. It was the second tough loss within the last 7 days, and we will see if this team can bounce back.
Next game: This afternoon, the Phillies in Philadelphia. The Phillies will be sending out their big boy Zack Wheeler to the mound. Despite having an ERA of 1.89 he is 0-2. We can only hope that trend continues. This does not seem like it is going to be the day that the sick Pirate offense is going to get well. But then I thought starting Bailey Falter was like forfeiting the game. Mitch Keller will have to have his best start of the year if the Pirates are going to gain a split in the series. The road trip is now 1-2 with 3-4 seemingly slipping away.
The Goofy Game of Golf/Life Searching for the Answer 