Pirates Morning Report: 6-0 Shellacking

Final Score: Pirates 0 Padres 6

Why The Pirates Lost: They simply got outhit, outpitched and overall outplayed by the Padres. This was a game of contrasts. Because of the long weather delay this became an impromptu bullpen game. The Padre bullpen shut down the Pirates giving up 0 runs on 4 hits and 2 walks, while striking out 11. The Pirate bullpen gave up 6 runs over that stretch, but you could argue it was not all their fault. The defense although not charged with any errors missed three consecutive balls in the top of the 5th that led to the Padres scoring 4 runs and breaking the game open. All three balls were in the glove but not held. The other contrast was you watched a manager continuing making moves depending on who was at bat or what he wanted to match up. On the other side of the coin, you saw a manager make moves for no rhyme or reason or made no moves in key situations. I hope I do not have tell you which manager was which. Regardless the Pirates continue to slide backward on this homestand.

Key Moment Of The Game: The Pirates had a chance to make a game of it in the bottom of the 7th. They loaded the bases with 2 outs and Jared (Why Am I Still In The Big Leagues) Triolo came to plate. Curiously manager Mike Shildt brought in left hander Tanner Scott to face the right hand hitting Triolo. Whatever the reason he knew what he wanted because Scott struck out Triolo on 4 pitches. Of course, Triolo helped by taking the first pitch almost down the middle. He took a ball but then swung at a ball around his ankles, the new Triolo strike zone. He did swing and miss at a ball in the strike zone to end the threat. The Pirates never threatened again and fell to .500

Next Game: Tonight Padres in Pittsburgh. The season is slipping away, and the Pirates seemed way undermanned when compared with the other playoff contenders. I guess all we can hope for is a Brewer collapse.