Final Score: Pirates 0 Braves 3
Why The Pirates Lost: The Pirates offense was shut down. They had only one at bat with a runner in scoring position. They struck out 11 times. They did not get a hit in the last 3 innings of the game. The bullpen gave up the big hit. Joey Bart of all people, hit a 2 out 2 run homer in the top of the 8th to break the scoreless dead lock. Jarod Jones pitched 6 perfect innings. He struck out 8 while throwing 77 pitches. We know that hitting can be a sometime thing, but the offense really looked bad yesterday. This team just cannot seem to get on a roll. The loss sets up the rubber match this afternoon. With Brewers coming to town this seems like a must win.
Key Moments Of The Game: If this game was going to go into extra innings 0-0, the bullpen needed to come from another team. Dennis Santana started the 8th inning. He got the first two batters on 6 pitches. The brought up Mike Yastremski. Even though he has the famous name he has a slash line of .228/315/.348. On a 2-2 pitch Santana grooved a slider right down the center of the plate. Yastremski hit it off the Clemente wall for a double. Joey Bart had hit a ball off Jones that sent Bryan Reynolds right to wall in left, just missing a home run. The pitch was thrown knee high left center of the plate, a 90 MPH slider. Santana’s first pitch to Bart was a 93 MPH sinker almost in exactly the same spot. This time he did hit it out. You can’t make this stuff up. Isaac Mattson gave up a run in the 9th. The Braves bullpen, which is ranked 5th in baseball, made it hold up, not allowing the Pirate offense to even sniff a run.
Next Game: This afternoon, Braves in Pittsburgh. For the 2nd time this season, Mitch Keller is paired with a pitcher that has almost identical stats. It was the Twins Bailey Ober on May 30th. Today it will be Bryce Elder. The last time this happened the two pitchers combined to give up 15 runs. The Pirates were fortunate to win the game 10-9. They better have that same good fortune today. The Pirates need this game badly.
The Goofy Game of Golf/Life Searching for the Answer 