Final Score: Pirates 1 Nationals 0
Why The Pirates Won: Oneil Cruz took the second pitch of the game and smashed it 442 feet for a home run. It was the only run of the game. Trevor Williams and two other relievers gave up only 4 more hits while walking 4. Andrew Heaney gave up 5 hits and walked 2 but did not allow the Nationals to score over 7 and 1/3 innings of work. He struck out 4 batters. The bullpen of Ryan Borucki and Dennis Santana covered the final 1 and 2/3 innings without giving up a hit or walk. The pitching staff won this one for the Pirates.
Key Moments Of The Game: Both teams missed some golden opportunities to score. Since the Nationals lost the game, theirs were more significant. The Nationals open the 2nd inning with 2 singles putting runners on 1st and 2nd with no outs. Luis Garcia Jr. hit a ball right back to Heaney. He had trouble getting the ball out of his glove which cost him the double play. This put runners on 1st and 3rd with one out. Jacob Young hit a liner but right at IKF for the 2nd out. Never hurts to be a little lucky. Riley Adams grounded out and the threat was over. In the top of the 6th the Nationals tried to get a little two out lightening going. Amed Rosario singled and Nathaniel Lowe doubled after two were out. Dylan Crews flew out to right to end that threat. The final threat came in the top of the 8th. Nasim Nunez walked on 7 pitches to start the inning. He was sacrificed to 2nd for some reason and the Pirates were glad to get the out. Borucki came on in relief. He got James Wood to ground out to shortstop with Nunez advancing to third. Rosario hit a ball down the 3rd base line that Ke’Bryan Hayes made a great play on to easily throw out Rosario. The Nationals went quietly in the 9th. The Pirates had their second series win of the season.
Next Game: Tonight, the Guardians in Pittsburgh. Luis Ortiz will face his old teammates tonight. He has not been lighting it up with an ERA over 6. The same could be said about Carmen Mlodzinski, who carries an ERA over 6. If these team weren’t so bad offensively I would expect to see a lot of scoring. Most likely we will see very few runs scored. Despite winning the last two games the offensive woes continue. Cruz’s long balls and great pitching were the difference. I don’t see this offense picking up. I hope I’m wrong.
The Goofy Game of Golf/Life Searching for the Answer 