Final Score: Pirates 4 Tigers 1
Why the Pirates Won: Ashcraft backed up his complete game gem with a spectacular 8-inning performance, throwing only 80 pitches. The only reason it was not another complete game was that the Pirates were too foolish to let him come out for the 9th inning. Even though Mason Montgomery overcame an opening error by Brandon Lowe to mow down the next three batters, it was a wasteful use of the bullpen when you have a 4-1 lead going into the 9th. Ashcraft should have been allowed to come out for the 9th, and if he let a guy on base, then bring Montgomery in. Ashcraft gave up 1 run, again on a solo home run, on 5 hits, striking out 4 and walking none. Of the 80 pitches he threw, 61 were for strikes. Talk about pounding the strike zone! The Pirates made the most of their 6 hits to push across the 4 runs. Oneil Cruz made his first start in 2 months and hit a long home run in his second at-bat to give the Pirates the lead, 2-1. They put men on 2nd and 3rd with no outs in the same inning but needed a 2-out hit by Spencer Horwitz to score another run. They added another run in the bottom of the 8th to make it 4-1. It was a good win to even the series.
Key Moments of the Game: After the Cruz homer in the 5th, Jake Mangum got a bunt single, and Rafael Flores doubled down the left field line that hopped into the stands to put runners on 2nd and 3rd with no outs. Jacob Gonzalez showed why the White Sox got rid of him by swinging at 5 pitches out of the strike zone on an eleven-pitch at-bat. He hit a 49 MPH ground ball to first with no runners advancing. Jared Triolo grounded out to 3rd, with Mangum being thrown out at the plate when he failed to touch home plate and then did not scramble back to touch it. Spencer Horwitz saved the day by taking a 1-2 pitch and getting a single into right field to score a very important 3rd run. After the Pirates took the lead, Ashcraft did not let the Tigers get anything going, allowing only one runner to get into scoring position in the last 3 innings he pitched. It was a no-stress win for the Pirates.
Next Game: This afternoon, Tigers in Pittsburgh. The Pirates have a chance to win their second series in a row. Paul (Mystery Man) Skenes goes for the Pirates today with a couple of day extra rest. We will see if it makes a difference. Skenes has had a mediocre season so far and no one is talking. Skenes has had the deadly combination of a lack of velocity and lack of command. No one is saying he has any injuries even something minor. Skenes has said it is more mental but really does not elaborate. Obviously, the pitching coaches are clueless because it would be fixed. The Pirates are still 6.5 games out of the wild card as the Phillies and Padres stay hot. The Diamondbacks are faltering right now losers of 3 in a row. The Pirates need to get super hot and hope another team falters. Their odds stayed at 1.1% to make the post season.
The Goofy Game of Golf/Life Searching for the Answer 