Tag: Offense on a roll

Final Score: Pirates 10 Astros 6

Why the Pirates Won: The hitters took over again, scoring 10 runs with Endy Rodriguez, Oneil Cruz, and Brandon Lowe all hitting a home run and driving in 3 runs each. For the game, the team scored 10 runs on 13 hits to go along with 8 walks. Bubba Chandler, for the third consecutive game, took over 90 pitches to go 5 innings. Again, control was the problem. His first two pitches of the game were right down the middle and were hit for a single and a home run. In the bottom of the 3rd, he threw 11 straight pitches out of the strike zone. The Astros swung at 2 of them. He did pitch a strong 5th, retiring the side in order. Wilber Dotel pitched another strong 3 innings, giving up no hits, walking 2, and striking out 3. Unfortunately, Dennis Santana crapped the bed again, getting only one out and giving up 2 runs to raise his ERA to 5.47. This forced the Pirates to use their closer, Gregory Soto, in a game they led 10-4 going into the bottom of the 9th. They find themselves in 2nd place today thanks to this 4-game win streak.

Key Moments Of The Game: It was in the bottom of the 3rd that the Astros scored their 3rd run on an error, walk, and single. They had runners on 1st and 2nd with no outs and had a 3-2 lead. After a pop out, Chandler threw a wild pitch, putting runners on 2nd and 3rd with one out. The Astros had an excellent opportunity to add to their lead. Chandler bore down and struck out the next batter. Cam Smith hit a hard ground ball, but it was right at Jared Triolo, and the inning was over. In the bottom of the 4th, after one out, the Astros put together two singles to put runners on 1st and 3rd. Christian Vazquez, on 1st, made a huge base running blunder. On a line drive to left field that Bryan Reynolds trapped, Vazquez was confused and did not go to second base. For some strange reason, he thought that Bryan Reynolds had caught the ball. The throw was to home plate, and he still did not go to second base. Endy Rodriguez easily threw him out at 2nd base on a force out. Yordan Alvarez swung at the first pitch and flied out to left field, ending the inning with the Astros scoring only one run. In the first 5 innings, the Pirates had hit into 3 double plays. In the top of the sixth, they decided that enough is enough. They opened the inning with a walk and a single. Oneil Cruz belted a no-doubter into right field, and before you say the Mike Burrows trade was fantastic, the Pirates had a 5-4 lead. Endy Rodriguez, who had his best game of the season, walked, stole second, and scored when Jake Mangum’s bunt single was thrown away. This gave the Pirates a 6-4 lead. Lowe hit a 3-run homer in the 8th to give the Pirates a nice cushion.

Next Game: Tonight, Astros in Houston. You do not see this very often. Paul Skenes is going tonight for the Pirates. He is going up against a pitcher by the name of Spencer Arrighetti. In 8 starts, he has an ERA of 1.34, which is over 1 run less than Skenes’ 2.89. Over the last two years, in 35 starts, his ERA has been just under 5. Maybe the law of averages will catch up with him tonight. With Skenes pitching, we will see Henry Davis in the lineup. That’s a damn shame. Already, Arrighetti has an automatic out in the lineup. We will see if the Pirates can tie their longest winning streak of the season at 5. Will the Pirates ever use Ozuna again? Let’s hope it is not tonight.