Final Score: Pirates 0 Diamondbacks 1 11 innings
Why The Pirates Lost: They could not score a run in 11 innings. In fact, they only had 1 hit in 11 innings. They are on a new scoreless streak of 17 innings. They hit 2 balls all night over 100 MPH—one hit on the ground and one hit in the air. They only struck out 7 times. They were hit by a pitch twice and walked 4 times. Obviously, they could do nothing with them. They did not score in the two extra innings, even with a runner on 2nd to start the inning. The Pirate pitching was almost just as good. They held the Diamondbacks scoreless through 10, giving up just 5 hits. They also gave up 4 walks but did not hit anybody. In the bottom of the 11th, the Pirates showed it again. They have no idea what to do on the bases.
The Key Moment Of The Game: The Diamondbacks finally pushed a run across in the top of the 11th. The inning opened with a walk to Ketel Marte. Geraldo Perdomo hit a deep fly to center to move the runner to third. Eugenio Suarez lifted a fly ball to right. Bryan Reynolds did not back up on the ball enough. This contributed to him making a very weak throw to the plate, and the runner scored easily. Things just got worse for the Pirates in the bottom of the 11th. Liover Peguero pinch ran for Spencer Horwitz to start the inning. He moved to third on a deep fly to center by Andrew McCutchen. Bryan Reynolds hit a soft liner to left that looked like it might fall in. Peguero didn’t just stay on the base to tag up. Instead, he was moving back and forth about 5 to 10 feet from the bag. By the time he decided to go back and tag, it was too late. The left fielder dived and rolled over to make the catch. Peguero did not even make an effort to score, thanks to his base running blunder. What makes this play even worse is that Oneil Cruz did the same bonehead baserunning a couple of games before. This cost the Pirates at least sending the game to the 12th inning. The Pirates lost this game because they could not perform basic baseball plays. Besides having no talent, the Pirates just don’t know how to play the game. There is nothing more to say.
Next Game: Tonight, Diamondbacks in Pittsburgh. Andrew Heaney goes for the Pirates. I guess you could say he is due for a good outing. Will the offense score a run tonight? Will somebody teach Peguero and Cruz how to run the bases? There was more bad news as the Yankees got their third baseman Ryan McMahon from the Colorado Rockies. He is slugging .403 which is not great. It is 103 points higher than Hayes’ putrid .300 slugging. We are probably going to be stuck with him. I expect the trade deadline to be just like this whole season: extremely disappointing and will make no sense.
The Goofy Game of Golf/Life Searching for the Answer 