Final Score: Pirates 4 Braves 1
Why The Pirates Won: It was another solid start from Mitch Keller, with the 2-man bullpen holding the Braves to just 1 run on 9 hits, without allowing a walk. Keller pitched 6 and 2/3 innings giving up the run and allowing 6 hits. Colin Holderman and David Bednar finished up the game strongly to give the Pirates their 2nd win over the Braves. The Braves did come close a few times on hitting the ball out of the park, but as we all know close is only good in horseshoes. The offense did just enough to push 4 runs across and with the strong pitching performance, it was more than enough to get the win. It was a surprise that Rawhide Rowdy did not start considering that Chis Sale is going today for the Braves who is one of the toughest left handers in baseball.
The Key Moment Of The Game: The Braves had just tied the game 1-1 in the top of the 4th getting two 2 out singles to plate the run. It could have been worse had it not been for a spectacular catch by Ji Hwan Bae of a line drive off the bat of Marcell Ozuna to start the inning. Oneil Cruz started the bottom of the 4th with a walk. Nick Gonzales hit a ball off the Clemente wall that Ronald Acuna Jr. could not handle cleanly that allowed Gonzales to go to third. This was a critical error because this allowed Gonzales to score on a line drive out to the left fielder and the Pirates had a 2-run cushion 3-1. They added a run in the 7th which made things a lot easier in the 9th when Bednar gave up a double and a single with 2 outs. He was able to get Acuna Jr. to ground out to end the game.
The Next Game: This afternoon, the Braves in Pittsburgh. The Pirates go for the series sweep today but it is going to be a tall order. As mentioned before, Chis Sale is starting for the Braves. In his last 20 innings of work, he has not allowed a run, striking out 28 with one walk. The Pirates are sending out Martin (I Will Never Pitch That Good) Perez who in his last 14 innings of work has given up 15 runs, 24 hits, walking 4, while striking out 13. Anyone seen the movie, Rocky? Maybe the Pirates will start Tellez today just to make him look really bad just so they can DFA him. This has to be one of the biggest mismatches of the season. If the Pirates win today there might be an investigation.
The Goofy Game of Golf/Life Searching for the Answer 