Final Score: Pirates 6 Brewers 3 in 10 innings
Why The Pirates Won: The Pirates won this on sheer persistence. They were able to survive striking out 15 times, the offense going to sleep in the last 3 innings, and just a so-so pitching performance from Mitch Keller. The Brewers were pretty gutsy themselves, battling back in the bottom of the innings that the Pirates took the lead. What the Brewers could not overcome was going 1 for 7 with runners in scoring position. Mitch Keller could only go 5+ innings, being charged with 3 runs on 5 hits. He struck out 5 and walked 2, throwing 93 pitches. The Pirate bullpen may have had their best game of the year, going 5 innings and giving up just 1 hit and 2 walks. Yohan Ramirez continues to shine, having a career year so far. He pitched the bottom of the 10th and retired the side in order, striking out 2.
Key Moment Of The Game: The bottom of the 10th was much easier thanks to Nick Gonzales. The Pirates had made the score 4-3 when Bryan Reynolds hit a ground ball between short and third that scored Henry Davis with one out. The hit advanced pinch runner Nick Yorke, who was running for Marcell Ozuna. Ozuna had pinch-hit for Brandon Lowe with the Brewers having a left-hander on the mound. You have to say one thing about Kelly: he is a man of his convictions. The fact that he had pinch-hit for Lowe before, with disastrous results, did not deter him. Ozuna was able to work a one out walk. Ryan O’Hearn hit a Baltimore chop to the pitcher that moved the runners to 2nd and 3rd with 2 outs. Nick Gonzales took a 1-1 sweeper and rifled it into left field, scoring 2 runs to make the score 6-3. This made the runner on second in the bottom of the 10th for the Brewers pretty much worthless. Ramirez made sure the Brewers did not make it interesting. The win ensures the Pirates finish with a .500 record on the road. They have the opportunity for the sweep and a 4-2 road trip.
Next Game: Today, Brewers in Milwaukee, at 2:10 PM. Carmen Mlodzinski will start today for the Pirates with no sign that the Pirates are going with an opener. Sigh. I would not mind seeing Cruz get a rest today. I still cannot figure out why on earth the Pirates have him leading off. His last 7 games he is only hitting .125. He did not do well in the lead off spot last year. There are plenty of players who could lead off. Of course, I am the guy that thought they should have never signed Ramirez and brought him up North. But still, what is the rationale of leading Cruz off. Can the Sunday lineup whatever it may be pull out the sweep, with our weakest link in the rotation starting? Check it out this afternoon.
The Goofy Game of Golf/Life Searching for the Answer 