Tag: Overcoming mistakes

Final Score: Pirates 6 Phillies 1

Why The Pirates Won: The quartet of Jared Jones, Carmen Mlodzinski, Gregory Soto, and Mason Montgomery held the Phillies to one run on 4 hits. They walked 2 (Jones) and struck out 10. Surprise, surprise, surprise, the Phillies did not hit a home run. The Pirate offense went 6 frustrating innings scoring only 1 run, despite having many opportunities to score more. Twice they had a runner on 3rd base with no one out and did not score. Once they had a runner on 3rd base with 1 out and did not score. With runners on first and second and no outs, Bryan Reynolds hit a ball off the wall in right field and no one scored. For the game, they left 12 men on base. When you win, all is forgiven but hopefully not forgotten. They finally started scoring in the 7th and 8th innings, getting 2 runs each. Nick Gonzales homered in the 9th for the 6th run. The pitching came through for once, and the Pirates managed a split with the Phillies.

Key Moments Of The Game: The score was tied 1-1 going into the top of the 7th. The Pirates looked like they were going to let this one get away with all the blown opportunities. Brandon Lowe singled to left to start the inning. Bryan Reynolds lined out to left field. Lowe tried to steal second and was ruled out. The call was overturned. Esmerlyn Valdez, who had driven in the only Pirate run, ripped a 113 MPH line drive that went all the way to the wall for a triple, scoring Lowe. Again, the Pirates could not get a runner home with fewer than two outs as Ryan O’Hearn struck out. Nick Gonzales saved the day with a 2-out 76 MPH line drive to center to score Valdez. Valdez showed them how to do it the next inning by hitting a sacrifice fly with one out to score the 5th Pirate run, capping off a 3 RBI day. Endy Rodriguez opened the inning with a home run. Soto and Montgomery mowed the Phillies down, with Soto only using 8 pitches, all strikes, and Montgomery striking out the side in the bottom of the 9th.

Next Game: Tonight, the Nationals in Washington D.C. The Pirates are in our nation’s capital for the big 250 years American celebration. My God, who thought that was a good idea? The Nationals are throwing left-hander Foster Griffin. He is tough on left-hand batters. Maybe Billy Cook will get his 2nd start. The Pirates are at .500; the Nationals are two games over. Each team needs to win at least one game of the series. The Nationals are the leading scoring team in the league. They are worse at preventing runs than even the Pirates. This would be the perfect time for the Pirate pitching to finally step up. They are coming off a dominant performance against the Phillies. Can they keep it up?

Final Score: Pirates 2 Cardinals 1

Why The Pirates Won: Good question. They were outhit 8 to 3, gave the Cardinals 4 outs in the bottom of the 9th, did not get a hit until the 7th inning, but still managed to win. Paul Skenes had another solid performance going 6 and 1/3 innings giving up 5 hits, no walks, while striking out 8. Both he and Miles Mikolas pitched a perfect 1st three innings. Mikolas gave up a walk in the 6th before giving up a hit in the 7th inning. Both pitchers pitched out of 1st and 3rd, nobody out jams, Skenes in the bottom of the 5th and Mikolas in the top of the 7th. The bullpen was able preserve the win, despite giving up a home run in the bottom of the ninth. They slipped into 2nd place, with four teams all within one loss of each other.

Key Moments Of The Game: Both pitchers getting out of those 1st and 3rd nobody out jams was huge. The game boiled down to the 9th inning where both teams failed to execute properly, with the Pirates being able to overcome their mistakes. With the Pirates pathetic bats, you knew that they were going to need help and they got it from Ryan Helsley and Cardinal catcher Pedro Pages. Helsley walks of all people Jack Suwinski on 4 pitches no less. A single and another walk loaded the bases with no outs. Connor Joe hit a line drive that drawn up shortstop Masyn Winn knocked down but rushed his throw that one hopped the catcher, who dropped the ball, allowing the Pirates to finally score. Oneil Cruz hit a sacrifice fly and the Pirates led 2-0. Bednar came in the bottom of the 9th and immediately, like first pitch immediately, gave up a home run, making the score 2-1. He got a strike out and a pop out in the next 7 pitches. He walked the next batter on 4 straight pitches. The game seems to be over on a strike out, but replay showed catcher interference putting runners on 1st and 2nd. Right here is where you thought the Pirates are going to blow it. However, Bednar strikes out the next batter on 6 pitches, giving the Pirates an unbelievable victory.

Next Game: Tonight, Cardinals in St. Louis. Baily Falter goes tonight for the Pirates. He will face Sonny Gray who has not looked all that great his last 2 starts. The Pirates did get some stiff from the Yankees to go to the bullpen. Good God. Can Falter keep the momentum going? Stay tuned.