Final Score: Pirates 1 Dodgers 4
Why The Pirates Lost: Against 7 of the Dodgers, Paul Skenes gave up 1 hit, struck out 8 and walked one over 6 innings. However, Gavin Lux and Teoscar Hernandez nailed Skenes for 4 runs on 5 hits with Lux getting 3 RBI’s and Hernandez hitting a home run to plate the Dodger’s 4th run. Not making excuses for the Pirates, but this was about as hard luck of a game you could possibly have. The first two Hernandez hits were a blooper and a swinging bunt. Neither hit traveled over 77 MPH and his double traveled only 219 feet, barely fair, before bouncing into the stands. For the second straight game the Pirates out hit the Dodgers but could only score 1 run, thanks to two line drive outs, a spectacular catch by Kevin Kiermaier, and Michael Taylor being picked off first where the Pirates had 3 hits in the inning but failed to score. This all led to the Pirates losing their 6th game in a row and falling further out of the playoff picture. The Pirates are 11 games behind the Brewers so you can forget the division.
Key Moments Of The Game: The Pirates had chances in the 2nd, 3rd, and the 6th and through a combination of bad luck and poor base running could not do it. In the top of the 2nd Joey Bart led off with a single but was doubled off first base when Rowdy Tellez lined out to the 2nd basemen. In the top of the 3rd with one out Michael Taylor singled but then got picked off first base. The Pirates followed that up with two more singles, but a ground out ended the inning. The Pirates started off the top of the 6th with a Bryan Reynolds single and a Oneil (I Did Not Make An Error Today) Cruz walk. Joey Bart smashed one down the left field line that the Dodger 3rd baseman Enrique Hernandez was able to leap up and grab, making a spectacular play. He was not able to double off anyone, but the great play saved some runs. The next two batters for the Pirates made outs and the inning and the game was over. In the 7th they did get two hits and had 1st and 2nd with 2 outs but Reynolds lined out sharply to left to end the inning. They did not mount any more threats and scored their only run on a Ke’Bryan Hayes home run in the top of the 9th.
Next Game: Late afternoon, Dodgers in L. A. Barry Falter again draws a big name as he goes up against Tyler Glasnow. He usually holds his own when he goes up against the big gun of the other team. Maybe the Pirates can get back on track today to just try and get some confidence back. Last night was a typical game when a team is going bad and nothing goes right. Can they stop the streak at 6? Only The Shadow Shelton knows.
The Goofy Game of Golf/Life Searching for the Answer 