Tag: Giving another one away

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Pirates Morning Report: Another Manager Loss

Final Score: Pirates 3 Rockies 4

Why The Pirates Lost: The Pirates made starter Kyle Freeland, who came into the game with an ERA close to 8, look like Lefty Grove. In 7 innings, he had given up just 2 hits and thrown only 75 pitches. The Pirates scored 3 runs in the top of the 8th to take the lead, 3-2. For the second consecutive time, Don Kelly sat on his hands and allowed Mason Montgomery to face 3 right-handed batters in a row, and it cost the Pirates again. After 2 outs, he gave up a single, single, double to allow the Rockies to storm back and take the lead in the game, 4-3. Despite what Greg Brown inferred, none of the hits were cheap. Both ground ball singles were 90+ MPH, and the double was ripped at 110 MPH. Left-handed batters only hit .156 against Montgomery, but righties hit .278. I guess the Pirates are not aware of this. I am not sure the Pirates had anybody warming up in the 8th inning. At least the Pirate broadcast did not show anybody. All of this wasted a good performance by Bubba Chandler. He went 6 innings, giving up 2 runs on 6 hits. He walked 2 and struck out just 1, throwing 74 pitches. With this bullpen, you have to wonder why he was taken out. He was allowed to throw 90+ pitches to get through 5 innings three games in a row. You make sense of it. The Pirates gave another game away and fell to .500. These losses mostly fall on the shoulders of Don Kelly. It will be the main reason, if this team does not make the playoffs.

Key Moments Of The Game: Despite all the bullpen blunders and not being able to figure out Freeland for 7 innings, the Rockies showed how bad of a team they are in the top of the 9th. The Pirates still could take advantage. The Pirates loaded the bases thanks to a hit, literally a booted ground ball, and a walk. Then Kelly decided to pinch-hit for Esmerlyn Valdez. Valdez started the 8th-inning rally with a one-out double. He had also hit a 400-foot fly out. Granted, it was against the lefty Freeland, but maybe Valdez deserved a chance. Tyler Callihan was the pinch hitter. Maybe the high altitude got to him. He struck out on 4 straight fastballs. Unfortunately, there was no one left to bat for the worst run producer the Pirates have in Jared Triolo. Triolo had driven in the first run of the game and had gotten 2 hits. But he proved that they were just flukes as he grounded into a double play to end the game. One thing you can say about the Pirates is they know how to lose.

Next Game: Tonight, Rockies in Colorado. Even with Paul Skenes pitching tonight, you do not feel good about this game. The Rockies are starting right-hander Tomoyuki Sugano. It will be interesting to see if Marcell Ozuna is in the lineup. He got another hit last night, and it was against a right-hander. I am betting no, although the Reynolds injury may get him in the lineup. Will the Pirates be able to take the series against the lowly Rockies? After last night, it is certainly just a toss-up.

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Pirates Morning Report: Was That Really A Baseball Game

Final Score: Pirates 3 Reds 5

Why The Pirates Lost: Another game where the Pirates were bad in every phase of the game. Here is one of many mind boggling stats of this game. In the bottom of the 8th the Pirates had 5 players on the field with these batting averages; .171, .140, .107, .071, and .150. What is even more amazing Tommy Pham and Adam Frazier raised their averages during the game. This offense was so bad that they had only one at bat with a runner in scoring position. Thanks to Barry (It Was My) Falter this time, walking 5 batters in 3 innings, the Reds scored 5 runs on just one hit. Endy Rodriguez decided to play his worst game of the year. At the plate over the course of two at bats he swung at 5 consecutive pitches out of the strike zone. He threw the ball away on a ball he should not have even thrown. This allowed the Reds to score runs 4 and 5. The Reds were almost as bad. That’s the key word almost. Thanks to a truly awful Pirate performance they came away with a victory.

Key Moment Of The Game: Falter walked the first three batters of the game. Spencer Steer grounded into a 5-4-3 double play. It looked like Falter might get out of the inning with only one run scoring. He fell behind Jeimer Candelario with 2 sliders that were at least a foot high. Falter grooved a 91 MPH fastball on the outer third of the plate just about belt high. Candelario hit it into seats and the Reds had an early 3-0 lead. The Reds scored 2 runs in the bottom of the third without even getting a hit to extend the lead to 5-0. That was more than enough to beat these hitless wonders.

Next Game: Tonight, Reds in Cincinnati. Andrew Heaney goes tonight for the Pirates. He has been a pleasant surprise so far. Will tonight be when his bubble bursts? Do you think the Pirates will start those 5 guys tonight with the pathetic batting averages. One thing is for sure they are determined to get Adam Frazier in the lineup. You cannot say the same thing about Tsung-Che Cheng. He came in the game when Joey Bart hurt his back. It took a spectacular play to get him out his first at bat. He did strike out against a left hander. For the second time he was pinch hit for by Andrew McCutchen against a right handed pitcher. Why I do not know. Only The Shadow Shelton knows. He is not talking. I don’t blame him. There is no explanation. Just trying to ruin another good young player. Go Adam Frazier. You are worth every penny of that 1.2 million dollar contract.