Final Score: Pirates 3 Royals 4
Why The Pirates Lost: In a game that was very much like the game before, the Pirates lost their 6th in a row. The score was the same, 4-3. The Pirates tied the game at 3-3. In the previous game, the Royals had a walk-off. This time, they scored the go-ahead run in the bottom of the 8th. In the game before, 3 of the 4 runs came by way of the home run. In this game, all of the runs came via the long ball. There was a little more hitting in last night’s game. The Royals collected 3 more hits and the Pirates had 2 more hits. Falter did a little better than his clone did two nights ago. He pitched 4 and 2/3 innings. He gave up 3 runs on 6 hits and 2 walks. Isaac Mattson gave up the go-ahead home run. Salvador Perez hit 2 home runs, including that game-winner in the bottom of the 8th. The Pirate offense still did not muster a very effective attack. They got back into their passive mode by taking 25 strikes. They had 2 doubles and the rest were singles. Pathetic. For the season, they are last in home runs, slugging, OPS, and OPS+. Putrid.
Key Moments Of The Game: The Pirates scored all of their runs in the top of the 6th. They could have scored a lot more. They had the bases loaded and nobody out. It took a big 2-out single by Ke’Bryan Hayes to knock in the last two runs. Are you watching Yankees? In the other 8 innings, the Pirates only had 5 hits. After the 6th inning, the Pirates had a 2-out double by Tommy Pham, who was stranded. This hot streak by Pham may yet make him a trade commodity. In the top of the 9th, Adam Frazier singled with one out. However, the Pirates could not advance him into scoring position. The Royals were saved by the home run ball, which they have found over the last 6 games. They were worse than the Pirates, going 1 for 9 with runners in scoring position. They left nine men on base. All of this kept the game close for the Pirates. The inability of the Royals to break the game open could have cost them. The ineptitude of the Pirates saved them.
Next Game: Friday night, the Twins in Minnesota. The Pirates get a day off today. They need it as they limp to the All-Star break. Paul Skenes will start for the Pirates. This will make him a leading candidate to start his second straight All-Star Game. I will tell you one thing: this trade deadline can’t come soon enough. The big talk is around trading Keller and Bednar. Of the two, Bednar has to go. The Pirates should get a good return for both if they make the deals. I think it is more important for the Pirates to get rid of the dead wood. I really don’t care what the return is. Hayes, Reynolds, Pham, and IKF should all be wearing different uniforms by Aug. 1. I think the fans need this day off more than the Pirates. I know I sure do.
The Goofy Game of Golf/Life Searching for the Answer 