Tag: 9th inning blues

Final Score: Pirates 6 Padres 7

Why The Pirates Lost: Another bullpen failure with David Bednar blowing his 2nd consecutive save. The offense did it’s job for a change scoring 6 runs on 12 hits, walking 3 times while striking out only 7 times. They were 3 for 8 with runners in scoring position. There was no question Bednar had some tough luck with the swinging bunt single and the throwing error by Oneil Cruz to allow the go ahead run to score, on a ball he should have never thrown in the first place. Bednar was his own worst enemy by walking two batters. Could you have had a more up and down day than Cruz? He went 3 for 5 with a run scored and an RBI. But then, he tried to go to second on a ball that if he would have run out of the box right away, he would have been safe. He did not run right out of the box and was thrown out. The Pirates for some unknown reason challenged the play, and it was easily confirmed. Glasses, anyone? Maybe spend some money and get a better monitor. If things would have played out as they did, Cruz’s base running blunder cost the Pirates a run The throwing error in the 9th ended his day on the downside. Now they have Colin Holderman on the 15 IL with a wrist strain. When in the hell, did he do that. He was never taken out of any game for it. Has he been pitching with this wrist problem and is that the reason he has been getting banged around to the tune of an 11.37 ERA over his last 7 appearances. Did he not say anything, or did they know he was pitching with an injury? It does make you wonder.

The Key Moment Of The Game: The 9th inning again, as Bednar came in to protect the one run lead. Xander Bogaerts started the inning with a little dribbler down the 3rd base line for a single. A tough break. Bednar walks Jackson Merrill on 4 pitches all high and away. So much for a short memory. He strikes out David Peralta. Ha Seong Kim was the next batter. He is having a down year. Hitting in the .220’s, he is having a below league average offensive year. This is the guy you have to challenge. Instead, Bednar after getting a lucky called 1st strike, throws four straight pitches that do not even come close to the strike zone and walks the bases loaded. Kyle Higashioka hits a slow roller to 2nd and Cruz makes the throw he shouldn’t, and the Padres grab the lead for the 2nd straight game in the 9th inning. Bednar gives up a double to Luis Arraez to give the Padres an insurance run that it turned out they needed to win the game 7-6.

Next Game: Tonight, the Dodgers in LA. The 1-5 homestand just about puts a cap on this season. There is still a long way to go, and teams can turn things around. If the Pirates go 3-3 on this road trip it will be a miracle. Will the Pirates do anything to right the ship. There isn’t a lot they can do, now that the trade deadline is way gone. If nothing else, let’s hope that Ben Heller can lower his 49.50 ERA. Come on Ben we will be pulling for you. We need a feel-good story.