Final Score: Pirates 3 Rockies 4
Why The Pirates Lost: The Pirates made starter Kyle Freeland, who came into the game with an ERA close to 8, look like Lefty Grove. In 7 innings, he had given up just 2 hits and thrown only 75 pitches. The Pirates scored 3 runs in the top of the 8th to take the lead, 3-2. For the second consecutive time, Don Kelly sat on his hands and allowed Mason Montgomery to face 3 right-handed batters in a row, and it cost the Pirates again. After 2 outs, he gave up a single, single, double to allow the Rockies to storm back and take the lead in the game, 4-3. Despite what Greg Brown inferred, none of the hits were cheap. Both ground ball singles were 90+ MPH, and the double was ripped at 110 MPH. Left-handed batters only hit .156 against Montgomery, but righties hit .278. I guess the Pirates are not aware of this. I am not sure the Pirates had anybody warming up in the 8th inning. At least the Pirate broadcast did not show anybody. All of this wasted a good performance by Bubba Chandler. He went 6 innings, giving up 2 runs on 6 hits. He walked 2 and struck out just 1, throwing 74 pitches. With this bullpen, you have to wonder why he was taken out. He was allowed to throw 90+ pitches to get through 5 innings three games in a row. You make sense of it. The Pirates gave another game away and fell to .500. These losses mostly fall on the shoulders of Don Kelly. It will be the main reason, if this team does not make the playoffs.
Key Moments Of The Game: Despite all the bullpen blunders and not being able to figure out Freeland for 7 innings, the Rockies showed how bad of a team they are in the top of the 9th. The Pirates still could take advantage. The Pirates loaded the bases thanks to a hit, literally a booted ground ball, and a walk. Then Kelly decided to pinch-hit for Esmerlyn Valdez. Valdez started the 8th-inning rally with a one-out double. He had also hit a 400-foot fly out. Granted, it was against the lefty Freeland, but maybe Valdez deserved a chance. Tyler Callihan was the pinch hitter. Maybe the high altitude got to him. He struck out on 4 straight fastballs. Unfortunately, there was no one left to bat for the worst run producer the Pirates have in Jared Triolo. Triolo had driven in the first run of the game and had gotten 2 hits. But he proved that they were just flukes as he grounded into a double play to end the game. One thing you can say about the Pirates is they know how to lose.
Next Game: Tonight, Rockies in Colorado. Even with Paul Skenes pitching tonight, you do not feel good about this game. The Rockies are starting right-hander Tomoyuki Sugano. It will be interesting to see if Marcell Ozuna is in the lineup. He got another hit last night, and it was against a right-hander. I am betting no, although the Reynolds injury may get him in the lineup. Will the Pirates be able to take the series against the lowly Rockies? After last night, it is certainly just a toss-up.
The Goofy Game of Golf/Life Searching for the Answer 