Final Score: Pirates 4 Mets 0
Why The Pirates Won: Not letting the other team score is a big step. Bailey Falter had a rough 1st inning even though he did not give up a run. He gave up a single and walked 2. More importantly, he threw 32 pitches. He made it into the 4th but could only get 2 outs. He gave up 2 more hits and walked 3 more. He left with the bases loaded. In came Chase Shugart. He threw one pitch. He got Jose Azocar to hit a soft line drive right to Ji Hwan Bae in center field. He went on to throw 2 more scoreless innings. He gave up one hit and did not walk a batter. The rest of the bullpen was just as solid over the last 3 innings. They only gave up 2 hits. The bullpen did not give up any walks. One of the hits was erased when Pete Alonso tried to stretch a single into a double. He was thrown out easily by Alexander Canario. Speaking of Canario, he left the one hundred club by going 2 for 4. The fates were looking more kindly on the Pirates in this game. The Mets hit some balls really hard, but they were always right at a Pirate. All in all, it was a very nice 4-0 win.
Key Moments Of The Game: Falter wiggled off the hook in the first inning. Then, the Pirates made 2 quick outs on 5 pitches to start the top of the 2nd. IKF singled to left field. Matt Gorski fell behind in the count 0 and 2. The next two pitches were in the upper part of the strike zone. They were both well inside the confines of the plate. They were both called balls. The fifth pitch was the first real ball of the at-bat. Gorski fouled off the next pitch. Given life not once but twice, Gorski hit the 7th pitch into the left field seats. The Pirates had a 2-0 lead. Luck was on their side on that one. In the top of the 5th, the Pirates added 2 more runs. Ji Hwan Bae had a bunt single to lead off. Jared Triolo hit the first pitch into the seats. The score was now 4-0 Pirates. The Mets never really threatened to make a game of it. The Pirates are now 3-3 against 2 of the beasts from the east.
Next Game: Tomorrow night, Phillies in Philadelphia. The Pirates wind up this 9-game stretch against the Phillies. Andrew Heaney will be starting for the Pirates. We may see Spence Horwitz making his 2025 debut. It will be interesting to see whom the Pirates send down or DFA. The Pirates need one win in Philadelphia to go 4-5 against the top 3 Eastern Division clubs. They have been in every game of the first 6. Will the offense ever get going? Even though they won last night, they still could not get by the 4-run barrier. They need the 100 club to shrink. Right now, it stands at 4 members. At least with Kelly, some of them are not playing. If this team is going to make any noise, that needs to continue.
The Goofy Game of Golf/Life Searching for the Answer 