Final Score: Pirates 1 Angels 6
Why The Pirates Lost: For the second straight game, the Pirates scored only one run, and this time it was not nearly enough. They could only get that one run on a home run. They had seven other hits and four walks but produced zero runs. They were 0 for 8 with runners in scoring position. They grounded into two double plays after the leadoff man got on base. With the Pirates trailing 6-1 in the bottom of the 8th, Oneil Cruz got a single with two outs. He then stole second base, which you could question, considering they were trailing by five, but at least that put him in scoring position. However, he then decided to make the bonehead play of the year by trying to steal third. He was thrown out to end the inning. In my view, he should not be in the starting lineup today or for the opening game of the road trip. Of course, Don Kelly should not be managing the Pirates either. If the Pirates are trailing by two or more runs going into the sixth inning or later, Kelly always puts in his worst available reliever. He could have put in Soto (three days rest), Doval (two days rest), or Ramirez, which he eventually did. He brings Isaac Mattson in for the sixth inning. He is lucky enough to get a clean inning out of him. He allows him to come out for the seventh and of course, Mattson gets racked for three runs on two doubles and two singles. Every ball hit was over 95 MPH. He did not bring in Soto even when a left-handed batter came up. Kelly is the king of giving up. It is the main reason that the Pirates have the fewest comeback wins in the division and it is not even close. The Pirates have 21 comeback wins. The Brewers 38, the Cubs 40, the Cardinals 29 and even the Reds have 36. Just another reason the Pirates are not making the playoffs.
Key Moments of the Game: It was another pathetic lineup that was put on the field. No Brandon Lowe, even though he has been hitting left-hand pitching better. Even for the season, his OPS against lefties is .614. That is a lot better than Nick Yorke, who is .570 against lefties and a lot worse overall. Taking out Ashcraft after just 67 pitches was a mistake. In the top of the 4th, there was a pop-up double that scored on a 2-out single. He gave up the home run in the 5th and some hard-hit singles to make the score 3-0, but he finished the inning strong with a ground out and strikeout. That is when Kelly decided that this game was over.
Next Game: This afternoon Angels in Pittsburgh. The saddest thing about this pathetic performance was that 3 of the 4 teams ahead of the Pirates lost last night. Only the Diamondbacks won. This means the Pirates are in the same place where they were when the Angels series started, which is 5 games out of the wild card. There are only 19 games left. Even if they win today and with Skenes pitching that is not a given, they would wind up being 4-2 at home against the Giants and the Angels. Another opportunity lost. After today they are headed for Chicago to play the White Sox and Cubs three games each. That trip should put everyone out of their misery.
The Goofy Game of Golf/Life Searching for the Answer 