Final Score: Pirates 3 Yankees 6
Why The Pirates Loss: Another complete team loss. Poor starting pitching and batters that thought the game was only 3 innings. Luis Ortiz pitched a mediocre 4 and 2/3rds innings giving up 4 runs, 6 hits, walking 6, while throwing 88 pitches. The bullpen gave up the other 2 runs on 3 hits while walking just one. The last 21 batters for the Pirates did not get a hit or a walk. The only good news about that is they contributed heavily to the game only going 2 hours and 37 minutes. It will give us something to watch today to see how long they will keep this streak going. Could they go 30 some batters before they get a hit or walk? Do not bet against it. This was about as lackluster of a performance by Pirates as they have had all year. It was amazing to me how Derek Shelton stayed awake during the game. He must have because he made the big 9th inning move, with the score 6-3 and a runner on 1st base with 2 out, bringing in the left hander Jose (Do I Have To) Hernandez to face the left-hand hitting Estevan Florial. He was showing his team that this game is not over. This inspired the Pirates so much that they made 3 outs in 9 pitches, including a strikeout, to end the game.
Key Moment Of The Game: The first inning set the tone for the game. Three walks and 2 hits resulted in 3 runs for the Yankees with 2 of the walks scoring. The big hit was a 2 out single by Estevan Florial that made the score 3-0. The Pirates made a game of it for 3 innings but then the bats went to sleep, and the Yankees added insurance runs they did not need, to win easily. Another way of putting it, the Pirates had an easy loss.
Next Game: This afternoon, Yankees in Pittsburgh. No matter what the Pirates do today the homestand will be disappointing. Maybe they will surprise on this tough 9 game road trip they are about to embark on. There are 13 games to go. They have to win 6 to get to the 75 win mark. You do not want to hold your breath.
The Goofy Game of Golf/Life Searching for the Answer 