Tag: Can anyone throw strikes

Final Score: Pirates 6 Dodgers 8

Why The Pirates Lost: The Pirate pitchers “led” by Mitch Keller gave up 8 runs on 10 hits walking 8, and hitting 3 batters. I guess you could say they made them pay for their thrills. In the 6 games that the Pirates faced the Braves and the Dodgers the pitchers gave up 43 runs for an average of 7.16 runs per game. The Pirates were fortunate to win one game. The Pirates tried to come back from a 5 run deficit two games in a row but fell just a little bit short.

Key Moments Of The Game: Shohei Ohtani hit a solo home run with one out in the top of the third. Andy Pages singled. Keller hit a batter, almost gave up a home run to Mookie Betts for an out and hit another batter to load the bases. Overpaid Kyle Tucker hit a little pop up blooper just over the outstretched glove of Nick Gonzales to make the score 3-0. The last thing the Pirates need right now is bad luck. In the top of the 4th Keller got 2 outs on 4 pitches. After that he completely collapsed. He gave up 3 singles in a row to make the score 4-0. He walked Mookie Betts to load the bases. He wild pitched in the 5th run of the game. In the bottom of the 5th the Pirates scored 4 runs on home runs by Rafael Flores and Brandon Lowe and a single by Spencer Horwitz. They had the bases loaded with two outs. Jake(Please Pinch Hit For Me When The Bases Are Loaded) Mangum was called out on strikes. To make matters worse he lost the Pirates last challenge plus he swung at a ball lower than that earlier. The bullpen could not keep the game close giving up 3 runs over the last 4 innings.

Next game: Tonight, the Marlins in Pittsburgh. Even though the Pirates get back into their weight class tonight when the Miami Marlins come to town, they are riding a 5 game win streak. They have climbed within one game of .500. You could call this an early season showdown between two teams fighting for a playoff spot. Will the Pirates finally respond when the pressure is amped up a bit? It should be an interesting weekend.