Final Score: Pirates 2 Cardinals 1
Why The Pirates Won: Mitch Keller pitched a solid 7 innings where he finished strong retiring the last 7 batters he faced. Even though not the strike out pitcher he was last year, Keller has been as consistent as anyone in baseball. Overall, he gave up 1 run on 6 hits, walking 2, striking out 3, while throwing 97 pitches. Aroldis Chapman came on in the 8th to get 3 up, 3 down on just 11 pitches. David Bednar gave up a two out single but struck out the last batter to preserve a big 2-1 win. The Pirate offense while terrible as usual did manage to push across the 2 runs that were enough to win the game. Oneil Cruz got a big 2 out hit in the bottom of the 3rd to give the Pirates a 1-0 lead. Nick Gonzales drove in the go ahead run in the bottom of the 8th. It looked like the Pirates were going to get more, but rally killer Ke’Bryan Hayes, batting 6th instead of 9th where any normal manager would put him, grounded into a double play to end the inning.
Key Moment Of The Game: The Cardinals had traffic on the bases the first 5 innings of the game. The top of the 5th opened with Nolan Gorman hitting the right field foul pole to tie the game 1-1. The Cardinals managed to get runners on 1st and 2nd with 2 out. Brendan Donovan hit a sharp ground ball down the first base line that Rowdy (Yes I Do Own A Glove) Tellez managed to make a diving stop, flipping to Keller to get the final out of the inning. If he does not make the play, the Cardinals get one run for sure and maybe even 2 which would have given them a 3-1 lead. The Pirates would have never overcome that.
Next Game: Tonight, Cardinals in Pittsburgh. Paul Skenes takes the mound tonight and I always get that little sinking feeling in the pit of my stomach that says this will be the start that Skenes shows he is human. I have had that feeling his last 3 starts and it has not happened yet. The Pirates have scored 2 runs in the last two games and are 1-1. Unbelievable. If they can win tonight, it will be a series win and puts the sweep into play. Greg Brown keeps saying Martin Perez is going to pitch the Wednesday afternoon game. The Pirate website say TBD. Let’s hope the website is right.
The Goofy Game of Golf/Life Searching for the Answer 