Final Score: Pirates 0 Diamondbacks 3
Why The Pirates Lost: The Pirates could not score a run. They could only manage 5 hits and 2 walks, with no hits for extra bases. They only had 2 at bats with runners in scoring position only leaving 5 men on base. Jared Jones pitched a decent 6 innings giving up 3 runs on 4 hits walking 2 and striking out 5 while throwing just 77 pitches. As usual he was plagued by the long ball giving up a two run homer in the 4th. Even though this was just in the 4th you had the feeling that the Pirates were not going to score much on lefty Eduardo Rodriguez. They wound up scoring zero.
Key Moments Of The Game: Nick Gonzales opened the game with a line drive single to center. He was immediately erased when Brandon Lowe hit into a double play. The next 8 batters were retired. With one out in the bottom of the 4th, Lowe and Bryan Reynolds hit back to back singles. Esmerlyn Valdez grounded into a double play to end the inning. Jared Triolo in the 5th with 2 out singled and stole 2nd. The Password hit a sharp ground ball but right to the shortstop to end the inning. The Pirates got 1 hit the rest of the game.
Next game: Tonight Reds in Cincinnati. The Pirates embark on an 8 game road trip beginning tonight with four games in Cincinnati. Then they will play 4 in Chicago against the Cubs. The Pirates have lost 5 of their last 7 games. They have been shut out in 3 of those losses. Brandon Lowe tried to downplay the importance of yesterday’s game. Technically he is right. This season has 2 months and 53 games to go. A lot can happen. The Pirates could get hot and storm into the playoffs. But after this miserable 2-4 home stand does that seem likely to happen. Only time will tell.
The Goofy Game of Golf/Life Searching for the Answer 