Final Score: Pirates 2 Twins 1
Why The Pirates Won: Mitch Keller went 6 innings, giving up 1 run on 4 hits and did not walk anyone. The bullpen of Ferguson, Santana, and Bednar nailed down the last 3 innings, holding the Twins scoreless on 3 hits. The bullpen did not walk a batter either. This performance was just good enough to edge the Twins 2-1. Tommy Pham hit a solo home run in the top of the 2nd for the first Pirate run. They barely scratched out a run in the top of the 9th to win the game. The losing streak ends at 8. It is nice to get a win with the next game 4 days away. The Pirates will start a 6-game home stand on Friday. Isiah Kiner-Falefa led the way with 4 hits. It was the Pirate pitching staff that won this one. I really don’t think the offense will ever get better in its current form. Can’t wait to see what happens at the trade deadline.
Key Moments Of The Game: Keller danced through some raindrops in the early going. He gave up a leadoff double in the 2nd. He held the Twins in check after that. He gave up a single and a double in the bottom of the third to allow his only run. After the double, he retired 11 of the next 12 batters. In the bottom of the 8th, Dennis Santana gave up 2 singles in a row after one was out. On a little dribbler out in front of the plate, Henry Davis made a nice play to get the lead runner at third. Santana got the next batter to fly out to center field to end the inning. As usual, the Pirates got some help to score the go-ahead run in the 9th. After one out, Ke’Bryan Hayes singled to centerfield. Oneil Cruz pinch-hit for Henry Davis. Cruz hit a little dribbler just to the left of the pitcher. He botched the play, and everybody was safe. IKF singled to center to load the bases. Spencer (There Is No O In My Name) Horwitz was the next batter. He hit a sharp ground ball to the left of second baseman Brooks Lee. He made an outstanding diving stop. He was thinking of trying to get a double play. With Horwitz running, it had a good chance of success. It became a moot point when he could not get the ball out of his glove. He was turned and threw Horwitz out at first. The Pirates had their cherished 2nd run. Bednar saved it in the 9th. He gave up a leadoff single. He struck out the next 2 batters on two great curveballs. He got the last batter to ground out, and the losing streak was over.
Next Game: Friday night, White Sox in Pittsburgh. Over the All-Star break, I will take a look at this disastrous season. I will see what I said about this team in late March. I will see where I was right and where I was wrong. I will go back in time to 1960 and look at Don Hoak. He had the season that I say time forgot. Finally, we will look at what the next 65 games might bring. At least, I will look at what I hope they will bring.
The Goofy Game of Golf/Life Searching for the Answer 