Final Score: Pirates 3 Cardinals 2
Why The Pirates Won: Luis Ortiz had a nice start. He gave up 2 runs, 5 hits, walked 2, striking out 7 over 6 innings of work. Unfortunately, when he left the game, the Pirates were trailing 2-1. In the top of the 7th Yasmani Grandal hit a 2 out solo home run to tie the game 2-2. Miracle no. 1 Carmen Mlodzinski held the Cardinals scoreless in the bottom of the inning. Miracle no. 2, after Bryan Reynolds grounded into a double play Oneil Cruz walked. Miracle no.3 Connor Joe got a hit. Nick Gonzales got the big 2 out hit and the Pirates led 3-2. Miracle no. 4 Dennis Santana held the Cardinals scoreless in the 8th. Aroldis Chapman came on to pitch the oddest bottom of the 9th for him. Six pitches giving up a single, two fly outs, and a ground out to get the save. Remember that Derek The Fox, he only threw 6 pitches so you can use him tonight if needed. Oh, by the way did you know that Billy Cook hit a home run the night before. Is that the reason he did not start last night or did the poor baby need a rest.
Key Moment Of The Game: The Pirates had just taken a 1-0 lead in the top of the 4th when Ortiz got off to a shaky start in the bottom of the inning. He gave up a single, a walk and another single that tied the game 1-1 and put runners on 1st and 2nd with no outs. Good old Lars Nootbaar on the very first pitch of the at bat grounded into a double play, which put a runner on third with 2 outs. Ortiz struck out Jordan Walker to end the inning. It looked like the Cardinals may do some big damage, but Ortiz did the job. The bullpen came through in the 7th, 8th and 9th, and the Pirates were able to salvage the last game of the series.
Next Game: Tonight, the Reds in Cincinnati. Mitch Keller starts tonight for the Pirates. In his last start Joe (I Leave No Carbon Footprint) Block and Matt ( I Leave A Big Carbon Footprint) Capps were singing the praises of Keller. Calling him the ace of the staff and saying how solid he has been all year. Don’t get me wrong, I am glad that we have Mitch Keller for a while, and he is a good mid-rotation guy. This does not define solid, last 7 games., 1-5 with a 6.27 ERA. He has had success against the Reds, so let’s hope he finds some more. Remember Shelton, Chapman only threw 6 pitches.
The Goofy Game of Golf/Life Searching for the Answer 