Final Score: Pirates 4 Rangers 0
Why The Pirates Won: Mitch Keller had a great bounce back start going 7+ innings allowing only 3 hits, no walks, while striking out 9. The Rangers never had a runner in scoring position the entire game. The Cruz boys Oneil and Bryan De La drove in a total of 3 runs in the 4th inning which was more than enough for the Pirates to win. It was a totally dominant performance by Keller and the bullpen cruzed (I can’t help myself) home to complete a nice win for the Pirates.
Key Moment Of The Game: After going 9 up and 9 down Isiah Kiner-Falefa started the 4th inning with a single to left. Bryan Reynolds and Joey Bart both struck out. Conner Joe on an odd looking swing hit a ball right down the right field line that appeared to hit off the wall back onto the field for a triple and yippee the Pirates had a 1-0 lead. Wrong, odd ground rule breath. The ball hit the railing above wall and a book rule double was the call and the run was taken off the board. The Cruz gang came through to overcome such bad luck, with Bryan De La getting a line drive single that could only be short hopped by the Ranger’s center fielder, and Oneil lined a triple just over the glove of the Ranger’s right fielder to give the Pirates a 3-0 lead that was never threatened.
The Next Game: This afternoon, Rangers in Texas. We don’t know who is starting today for the Pirates. A series win would be very nice on the road. It would be great momentum going into the next 7 home games against the Reds and the Cubs. I wonder if Shelton realizes that. Probably not, but maybe the Pirates will win anyway.
The Goofy Game of Golf/Life Searching for the Answer 