Tag: Pitching failure

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Pirates Morning Report: A Game To Forget

Final Score: Pirates 8 Diamondbacks 9

Why The Pirates Lost: A complete and utter pitching failure. This could have been the game that you would have remembered if the Pirates wind up making the playoffs. Instead, it’s a game to forget. The first four batters of the game for the Diamondbacks all scored on a triple throwing error and then 3 straight home runs. They added another run and had a 5-0 lead after a half of an inning. The Pirates battled back and took a 7-6 lead after 6 innings. The Diamondbacks added single runs in the 7th, 8th, and 9th to take a 9-7 lead going into the bottom of the 9th. Oneil Cruz led off the inning with his 5th hit of the night going 5 for 5. He was able to score on a Rawhide Rowdy single, but the Pirates could not get another run. Not a good start to the homestand, but our big boys are going this weekend so we may be able to salvage the series.

Key Moments Of The Game; In the top of the 7th Aroldis Chapman mowed down the first two batters by striking them out. Josh Bell was behind in the count 0-2, Chapman threw a high outside 103 MPH fastball and Bell scorched it into the right field seats. A similar home run happened to Champman earlier this year on a high outside pitch that was hit into right field for a home run. Colin (I Wish That They Had Traded Me) Holderman pithed the top of the 8th and failed to dance through the raindrops. The man just can’t seem to throw a clean inning. He gave up a single to start the inning but got the next batter to pop out. The second batter lined out to Triolo. The runner stole second during the at bat. This brought Geraldo Perdomo to the plate. Holderman got ahead of him 0-2. The next pitch he fouled off of his knee. Perdomo was in some bad pain. After throwing a ball, Holderman pretty much grooved a sweeper out over the plate just above the knees. Perdomo laced a ball off the right field wall for a double to bring in the go ahead run. They added the deciding run in the 9th on their 5th home run of the night. It was an extremely rough night for the bullpen.

Next Game: Tonight, Diamondback in Pittsburgh. The Pirates will need to bounce back tonight. They can ill afford to lose a series to the Diamondbacks at home. The offense finally did something last night and yet the Pirates still lost. Not a good sign.

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Pirates Morning Report: Eight Runs Not Enough This Time

Final Score: Pirates 8 Brewers 11

Why The Pirates Lost: This was a complete pitching failure. Johan Oviedo and Roansy Contreras combined for 7 and 1/3 innings giving up 11 runs, 12 hits, and walking 4. Both pitchers just can’t seem to get any consistency going. At one point the Brewers led 10-0. The Pirates made it interesting scoring 2 in the 6th and 6 in the 8th to make it 11-8 but went quietly in the 9th to fall 4 games below .500.

Key Moment Of The Game: In the bottom of the 8th, the Pirates had a runner on 2nd base with 2 outs and had only scored 1 run to make the score 11-3. The Pirates went on a tear. Jack Suwinski hit a home run to quickly make it 11-5. Conner Joe walked, Henry Davis singled, moving Joe to third. Davis went to 2nd on a wild pitch. Tucupita Marcano tripled to make the score 11-7. Jared Triola doubled off the Clemente wall to get the Pirates within 3. Rodolfo Castro who has not looked good at the plate for the last 3 weeks struck out on a 3-2 pitch about 4 inches outside the zone and the inning was over. The Pirates made the Brewers sweat for a moment but it was not enough and the winning streak was over at 4.

Next Game: This afternoon, Brewers in Pittsburgh. I really look at this as a must win for the Pirates. They need this to win a division series. They need it for their psyche. A 5-1 home stand is a must after the hole they put themselves in. This has been the weekend of the veteran and you can’t get more veteran than Rich Hill. Hopefully he will have his at them ball working and the Pirates can pull out the win.