Tag: Back to normal.

Final Score: Pirates 3 Blue Jays 7

Why The Pirates Lost: Mitch Keller had a really bad outing. His control was lousy. He walked 3 and hit a batter. He got hit a lot. He gave up 5 runs on 7 hits including a home run. He threw 85 pitches in 3 and 1/3 innings. As usual the Pirates broadcast booth got it all wrong. They gave his overall stats for his last 6 outings, which are horrible. What they failed to mentioned is that two of those starts were pretty good. One was 5 and 2/3 innings giving up 2 runs. The other, 6 innings giving up 3 runs. Over the last 4 years his ERA+ has ranged from 106 to 98. Keller has shown over the years he can be very good or very bad. The perfect definition of consistently inconsistent. Really what difference does it make with that offense. They did manage 3 runs. WOW! They were 2 for 11 with runners in scoring position. The AAA boys were 2 for 7 with an RBI and 3 strikeouts. I will admit, the Blue Jays did flash some impressive leather especially center fielder Myles Straw. The bottom line is that the Pirate’s batters can’t control the strike zone. Therefore they stink.

Key Moment Of The Game: The score was 5-0 going into the bottom of the 2nd. Max Scherzer did not get some borderline calls and walked the first two batters of the inning. Joey Bart got an infield hit to load the bases. Up steps Jared AAA Triolo with no baseball awareness. He swings at 3 straight pitches out of the strike zone to strikeout. Great at bat Dead Tree. IKF grounds out to score a run. Ronny (Can I Please DH Since I Can’t Field) Simon popped out to end the inning. It was a golden opportunity to get back in the game. It would be their last.

Next game: In about 3 hours, Blue Jays in Pittsburgh. Johan Oviedo is going to get his 2nd start. Let’s hope he can go more than one inning. The Pirate offense continues to amaze. The offense is now 29 runs behind the 29th place Rockies. Despite some mild resurgence none of the AAA boys are hitting over .200. Will all 4 get to play today. I can hardly wait.

Final Score: Pirates 0 Nationals 3

Why The Pirates Lost: Once again the Pirates proved that their offensive outburst the game before was just a fluke. Last night they were shut out on just 4 hits. No extra base hits. They struck out 10 times, with 1 walk. They only had 2 at bats with runners in scoring position. The only players that got hits should not have been playing. Jack Suwinski Tommy Pham and Henry Davis had the 4 hits. In the top of the 9th there were 6 players on the field that had batting averages of .200 or less. Despite getting hits Davis and Pham brought up the rear with .154 averages. Cruz, Reynolds and IKF had awful nights going 0 for 11 with 7 strikeouts. The defense committed one error but overall was just horrible. Every fly ball in the outfield was an adventure. The beneficiary of all of this “great” play was Mitch Keller. The Pirates have not scored in his last 13 innings of work. They fell to 6-12 very quietly.

Key Moment Of The Game: The lineup was just as bad as I thought it would be with no McCutchen. However the bad players did have some production. In the top of the 6th Keller quickly got the first 2 outs on just 7 pitches. Unfortunately he hit Paul DeJong right in the face. Keller was visibly upset. I think he responded well but you can’t control luck. Keller’s was all bad. Dylan Crews hit an 86 MPH blooper for a single sending pinch runner Amed Rosario to 3rd. Dylan Crews stole 2nd uncontested. After a 10 pitch battle, Nasir Nunez sent an even softer 81 MPH liner to shallow center field scoring both runners to make the score 3-0. This game was over.

Next Game: Tonight, the Nationals in Pittsburgh. Barry (Can They Make The Strike Zone Bigger) Falter will go for the Pirates tonight. Hopefully he has solved the control issues he had in Cincinnati. The Nationals are throwing a lefty so there will be some heavy thinking by The Shadow to come up with a goofy lineup. Maybe Pham leading off. IKF batting cleanup. McCutchen batting 9th or again not playing. I bet he was up all night. The big question with a lefty pitching will be, who’s on first?