Tag: Pittsburgh Pirates.

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Pirates Morning Report

Final Score: Pirates 7 Brewers 4

Why The Pirates Won: The bats woke up again and the Pirates scored 7 runs. They hit 2 home runs, each one coming with 2 outs, to drive in 3 of the runs. They scored all of their runs after two were out, in each of the three innings they scored. Probably the best clutch hitting the Pirates had all year. Bryse Wilson went 6 innings giving up 2 runs on 8 hits and a walk. He was aided by some line drives hit right at people and some very good plays in the field. The bullpen was a little shaky again, with David Bednar coming on in the 9th. After an opening walk, that looked like here we go again, he settled down, and got the next 3 outs rather handily to end the game. After the debacle on Friday night, this was a very nice win.

Key moment of the game: After scoring 1 run in the 1st the Brewers had 2nd and 3rd with one out in the top of the 2nd. Bryse Wilson was getting hit pretty hard at this point, and it looked like the Brewers may break the game open. The Pirates brought the infield in and Christian Yelich stroked a bullet that looked like it was headed to left field. Then Oneil Cruz stretched that 6’7 frame and made a great catch, continuing on to third base to easily double off, Jace Peterson. It was a great play by Cruz, but another base running gaffe by an opposing team, got the Pirates out of the inning. It seemed to settle down Wilson who had given up 4 hits and hit a batter, in the first two innings. Over the next 4 innings he gave up 1 run and 4 hits. If that play does not happen it is hard to tell how the game would have gone from there.

Next Game: This afternoon, Brewers in Pittsburgh. The Pirates have another chance to take 3 out of 4 from a team who slaughtered them in one game of the series. Quintana takes the hill for the Pirates today, which gives them a good chance. Cherrington said yesterday that the Pirates will be bringing up many accomplished Major League players in the coming days. No comment needed for that asinine remark.

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Pirates Morning Report

Final Score: Pirates 2 Brewers 19

Why The Pirates Lost: Contreres just didn’t have it last night, and it was just as well because nobody else did either. This is the third blow out of the season for the Pirates. They have given up 21, 18, and now 19 runs in a single game. In 4 other games, they have given up 10 runs or more. One thing about the Pirates they know how to lose. I wonder if there have been any seasons where the Pirates have given up 18 runs or more in 3 games. I am sure you won’t hear any of that coming out of the Pirate broadcast booth. It was fitting that this was Pirate charities night. Maybe Major League Baseball can give the Pirates some players, particularly some pitchers. Cruz can thank Derek (Nothing is going to get past me) Shelton, for challenging a call trailing 17-1, allowing Cruz to get an RBI. Did you notice that the umpire could barely keep a straight face when he announced the overturn?

Key Moment of The Game: The top of the 8th inning may have seen a little-known Major-League record. Someone with more time on their hands than I have may be able to find this out, but Cam Vieaux threw 48 pitches before he recorded his first out. I have to wonder if anybody else threw more before he recorded a single out. He finished the inning, which is just as amazing. He did come close to the most pitches thrown in one inning which is 61.

Next Game: This afternoon, Brewers in Pittsburgh. No one knows who is going to pitch today. Both clubs have asked Major League Baseball if they would allow pitching machines for at least 5 innings. There is only one thing certain about today’s game Cam Vieaux will not pitch. There is even uncertainty about whether or not the Pirates will even show up. They didn’t last night.

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Pirates Morning Report:

Final Score: Pirates 8 Brewers 7

Why The Pirates Won: Surprisingly, the Pirates bats have come alive, and even with the pitchers folding up, the Pirates managed another 8-7 win. In the last two games the Pirates have given up 14 runs, 28 hits, and 9 walks. The Pirates won both games. I would consider that a miracle. Michael Perez was the star with a 3 home run game and the final one proved to be the difference. This recent home run surge by the Pirates have moved them up to 13th in the league. It may be the only stat that the Pirates are above the league average. J. T. Brubaker hung tough for 6 innings to get his 2nd win in a row. David Bedner was very shaky again, giving up 3 runs in the 9th, to make things way more exciting than necessary. This gave Yerry De Los Santos another save opportunity and he came through in the clutch. I expect to see Bedner on the IL soon. Another nail-biting win for the Pirates.

Key Moment of The Game: Every time Michael Perez came to bat. Going into the game he had 3 home runs and 6 rbi’s. In this game he had 3 home runs and 5 rbi’s. Talk about an unexpected pleasure.

Next Game: Tonight, Brewers in Pittsburgh. Contreras vs. Burnes. It’s a good bet there will not be 15 runs scored tomorrow. The Pirates have the long ball going and Corbin Burnes is prone to throw a few gopher balls. The Yu Chang era came to end as the Pirates did DFA him yesterday. I will miss him. Next to The Turtle, he was my favorite player. Right now, the Pirates do not have a player on the team that is a total waste of cells. Shelton is completely dumbfounded on what to do. He has been heard muttering, when will Yoshi return. I am sure the bullpen will bail him out and continue to stink.

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Pirates Morning Report

Final Score: Pirates 8 Nationals 7

Why The Pirates Won: It took another spectacular day by a Pirate for them to get a victory. This time it was Bryan Reynolds who had the big day with 3 home runs and 6 rbi’s. It was a wild game with many base running gaffs by both teams but many more by the Nationals. The Nationals got 16 hits, along with 6 walks but could only get 7 runs. They had base runners every inning but the 9th. The bullpen held it together pretty well especially in the late innings when it mattered most. Yerry De Los Santos pitched a clean 9th inning to get his first major league save. It was a great way to break the losing streak.

Key Moment of The Game: It came in the bottom of the 6th with the Nationals leading 6-5. They had Josh Bell on 2b with one out and Nelson Cruz at the plate. He hit a rocket just to the right of the 2b bag, in which Hoy Park made a spectacular play to catch the ball and double off Josh Bell. As the pitch was being thrown, he drifted a little more to his left then had to take 2 steps back to the right and back handed the ball about one foot off the ground. The force of the ball moved him back into the outfield just a touch. Bell took off at the crack of the bat and was easily doubled off. Greg Brown called this a nice play. The other factor was the umpire was in the way and had to lean backwards from the ball. If the play is not made the score is going to 7-5 and there is no telling what would have happened next. The play may have been one of the best defensive plays of the season. Reynolds hit the 3-run homer in the next inning to propel the Pirates to victory.

Next game: Tonight, Brewers in Pittsburgh. Brubaker takes the hill tonight which should be a good pitching performance. Anyone who thought Oneil Cruz could not play shortstop has certainly been proven wrong. He looks as solid as any shortstop in the last 20 years. We will see if the Pirates are going to make any moves today. The Chang era is in jeopardy. He will be missed if it happens. However, Yu never know what the Pirates are going to do.

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Pirates Morning Report:

Final Score: Pirates 2 Nationals 3

Why The Pirates Lost: For the most part the Pirates bats were quiet only getting 7 hits and the 2 runs. Miguel Yuri danced through the raindrops for 4 innings giving up 4 hits and walking 3 batters but did not allow a run and threw only 65 pitches. He did not come out for the 5th inning and once again the bullpen could not hold the lead, giving up 3 runs in 4 innings of work. Another strange move by the Shadow. Yuri benefitted from some hard hit balls being right at someone, but he still only threw 65 pitches. The way the bullpen has been performing lately, you would have thought, they would have left him keep pitching. It was not the “thought” process on the Pirate bench and their 4th close loss in a row was sealed.

Big Moment of The Game: The Maikel Franco 2-run homer in the bottom of the 8th with 2 out, won the game for the Nationals. The Pirates did get a runner to 2b in the top of the 9th but could not get the hit to get him in. It was another bad day for the Pirates. They showed that they don’t do the little things to win games.

Nest Game: Tonight, the Nationals in D.C. The bullpen has failed miserably over this 4-game skid and the bats are sleep walking through games. In last night’s game, the Pirates did not strike out a ton, 7, but they seemed to take a lot of strikes. They were not aggressive at the plate at all. It’s Quintana tonight and he has not looked all that hot lately. Let’s hope he can have a good game.

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Pirates Morning Report

FINAL SCORE: PIRATES 5 RAYS 6

WHY THE PIRATES LOST: ANOTHER EXAMPLE OF A GOOD TEAM DOING WHAT IT NEEDED TO DO TO WIN ANDTHE PIRATES NOT. THE BULLPEN COULD NOT HOLD THE LEAD WHICH IS A BAD SIGN FOR THE FUTURE. THERE WAS SOME PRETTY GOOD CLUTCH PITCHING DURING THIS GAME AS J. T. BRUBAKER SPREAD OUT 9 HITS OVER 6 INNINGS GIVING UP ONLY 3 RUNS. THAT ALL ENDED IN THE 8TH AND 9TH. JACK SUWINSKI HIT A DEEP 3 RUN HOMER IN THE TOP OF THE 6TH TO TAKE A 5-3 LEAD AND IT LOOKED LIKE WE WERE HEADED FOR A SPLIT. IT WAS NOT TO BE AS THE BULLPEN FOLDED. DAVID BEDNAR MADE A HORRIBLE O-2 PITCH AND A LINE SINGLE BY ISAAC PAREDES WON THE GAME FOR TAMPA BAY.

KEY MOMENT OF THE GAME: AFTER 2 WERE OUT IN THE BOTTOM OF THE NINTH BEDNAR WALKED 2 STRAIGHT BATTERS WHICH SET UP THE WHOLE WINNING INNING. EACH BATTER HAD STRUCK OUT TWICE DURING THE GAME. THERE IS NO QUESTION WALKS ARE KILLERS. I KNOW THAT A LOSS IS A LOSS, BUT I WOULD RATHER HAVE SEEN BACK-TO-BACK HOMERS OR A BLOOP AND A BLAST, THAN WHAT TRANSPIRED. LET’S HOPE THIS WAS A LESSON LEARNED. THIS LOST WAS REALLY A TOUGH ONE TO TAKE, ON A TEAM THAT IS STRUGGLING TO WIN GAMES.

NEXT GAME: THIS AFTERNOON: RAYS IN TAMPA. ROANSY CONTERAS GETS THE START TODAY AND HOPEFULLY, WILL LOOK A LITTLE SHARPER THAN HE HAS THE LAST 2 OR 3 GAMES. THE GUY STILL LOOKS LIKE THE FUTURE ACE OF THE TEAM BUT I THINK HE NEEDS TO HAVE AN IMPRESSIVE START JUST TO GET A CONFIDENCE BOOST. CASTILLO SEEMS TO HAVE GOTTEN HIS POWER STROKE BACK SO I AM WAVERING ON HIM BEING SENT DOWN. MAYBE VAN METER BETTER CHECK THE GREYHOUND SCHEDULE. PLEASE, NO YANG TOMORROW, PLEASE.

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Pirates Morning Report

FINAL SCORE: PIRATES 3 RAYS 4 10 INNINGS

WHY THE PIRATES LOST: THEY COULD NOT HIT THE BALL. I MEAN THAT LITERALLY. THE PIRATES STRUCK OUT 17 TIMES. EVERYBODY STRUCK OUT AT LEAST ONCE, EVEN IF THEY JUST BATTED ONCE. THEY SCORED THEIR RUNS ON SOLO HOME RUNS. THE RAYS PLAYERS ONLY FIELDED 13 OUTS. THE PIRATES GOT 5 OTHER HITS PROBABLY BECAUSE THE RAYS PLAYERS NODDED OFF AT TIMES. KELLER, AGAIN HUNG IN THERE PRETTY WELL, BUT THE BALK REALLY PROVED TO BE COSTLY. IT GOES DOWN AS A TOUGH LOSS FOR THE PIRATES.

THE KEY MOMENT OF THE GAME: IT WAS JUST THE OPPOSITE OF THE GAME ON THURSDAY, AS IT WAS THE PIRATES WHO HAD 1ST AND 3RD WITH NOBODY OUT IN THE TOP OF THE 10TH WITH THE TOP OF THE ORDER COMING UP. THEY ALL THREE STRUCK OUT WITH REYNOLDS LOOKING PARTICULARLY BAD. REYNOLDS LOOKED BAD AT THE PLATE ALL NIGHT, HANGING AN 0 FOR 5 COLLAR. THE RAYS TOOK ADVANTAGE AND WON THE GAME IN THE BOTTOM OF THE 10TH.

NEXT GAME: THIS AFTERNOON, RAYS IN TAMPA BAY. J. T. BRUBAKER GOES FOR 2 WINS IN A ROW. IT SURE WOULD BE NICE TO SEE A GAME WITH NO CHANG AND NO TURTLE. THE TURTLE IN PARTICULAR HAS GONE SLOWLY (AS HE DOES EVERYTHING) DOWNHILL AT THE PLATE. HIS SLASH LINE IS DOWN TO 215/303/401. I HAVE TO SHOW THIS. CHANG’S SLASH LINE IS 125/236/208. KEEP PLAYING THIS GUY FOR SURE.

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Pirates Morning Report

FINAL SCORE: PIRATES 8 CUBS 7 IN 10 INNINGS

WHY THE PIRATES WON: DESPITE HAVING ANOTHER BIZARRE LINE UP, CHANG BATTING IN FRONT OF CRUZ AND BATTING MADRIS 9TH, THE PIRATES OVERCAME A VERY BAD BULLPEN PERFORMANCE TO PULL OUT THE WIN. IT’S NOT OFTEN WHEN A TEAMS DH HAS A LOWER BATTING AVERAGE THAN MOST PITCHERS DID, WHEN THEY HAD TO HIT. THE SHADOW SHELTON AGAIN SAT ON HIS HANDS AND WATCH A RELIEVER STRUGGLE, KEEPING HIM IN THE GAME WAY TOO LONG. THIS ALLOWED THE CUBS TO ERASE AND OVER COME A 4 RUN DEFICIT IN THE TOP OF THE 8TH INNING TO TAKE THE LEAD 7-6. THE PIRATES BATTLED BACK TO TIE THE GAME ON A MICHAEL CHAVIS LEAD OFF HOMER IN THE BOTTOM OF THE INNING.

KEY MOMENT OF THE GAME: MICHAEL CHAVIS’S GREAT GROUND BALL PICK UP AND QUICK THROW TO THE PLATE TO NAIL THE CUB’S RUNNER IN THE BOTTOM OF THE 10TH. THIS ENABLED THE PIRATES TO KEEP THE CUBS SCORELESS IN THE 10TH INNING WITH THE RUNNER ON 2ND RULE. THIS PUT A LOT MORE PRESSURE ON THE CUBS IN THE BOTTOM OF THE INNING WHICH THEY WERE NOT ABLE TO OVERCOME. THE PIRATES WERE ABLE TO JUST SQUEEZE THAT WINNING RUN HOME ON THE CHAVIS BLOOPER.

NEXT GAME: TONIGHT, RAYS IN TAMPA BAY. NORMALLY THIS WOULD NOT BE A GOOD PLACE FOR THE PIRATES TO GO, BUT RIGHT NOW THE RAYS HAVE A LOT OF INJURIES AND WITH THE PIRATES NEW BLOOD THEY COULD DO PRETTY WELL. MITCH KELLER IS STARTING TOMORROW NIGHT AND HE IS STARTING TO LOOK LIKE A PITCHER FOR THE FIRST TIME IN HIS PIRATE CAREER. THE BIG STORY IS, THERE ARE FOUR PIRATES ON REHAB ASSIGNMENTS IN THE MINORS. BEN GAMEL WILL BE SOON, WHILE KEVIN NEWMAN, JOSH VAN METER, AND YOSHI TSUTSUGO ARE CURRENT. TUCUPITA MARCANO IS STILL ON THE COVID IL. SO, WHO STAYS AND WHO GOES OR GETS TRADED? I DON’T KNOW WHAT THE PIRATES ARE GOING TO DO AND THEY PROBABLY DON’T EITHER. HAYES MAY HAVE TO GO ON THE IL. IN MY VIEW THERE ARE FOUR PLAYERS WHO NEED TO GO DOWN, OR SIMPLY GO. DIEGO CASTILLO NEEDS MORE SEASONING AND NEEDS TO GET HIS CONFIDENCE BACK AT THE PLATE. SAME THING CAN BE SAID FOR CAL MITCHELL. TSUTSUGO AND CHANG SHOULD GET A GREYHOUND BUS SCHEDULE, BECAUSE THEY JUST NEED TO LEAVE TOWN. THAT PUTS GAMEL, NEWMAN, VAN METER AND MARCANO BACK ON THE TEAM. GOD ONLY KNOWS WHAT IS GOING TO HAPPEN THE WAY THE PIRATES THINK. THEY MAY EVEN SEND CRUZ BACK DOWN, NOTHING WOULD SURPRISE ME. WHO KNOWS, ONLY THE SHADOW KNOWS.

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Pirates Morning Report

FINAL SCORE: PIRATES 5 CUBS 14

WHY THE PIRATES LOST: RECIPE FOR DEFEAT. FIRST BRING UP A BRYCE WILSON CLONE AND WATCH HIM GET RACKED FOR 10 RUNS IN 4.1 INNINGS. DON’T PLAY HAYES AND SUWINSKI. PLAY CHANG AND MITCHELL. LEAD OFF WITH CRUZ WHEN HE HAS HAD SUCH SUCCESS BATTING 6TH. MANAGEMENT WAS DETERMINED TO LOSE THIS GAME AND THEY SUCCEEDED. THIS SHOWS NO RESPECT FOR THE GAME OF BASEBALL AND THE FANS. NOTHING MORE NEEDS TO BE STATED.

KEY MOMENT OF THE GAME: WHEN DEREK SHELTON GOT OUT OF BED AND DECIDED THAT THE PIRATES WERE NOT GOING TO WIN TODAY NO MATTER WHAT.

NEXT GAME: THIS AFTERNOON, CUBS IN PITTSBURGH. LET’S HOPE THAT WHAT WE SAW BEFORE THE GAME LAST NIGHT, THE STARTING LINE UP, WILL NEVER BE SEEN AGAIN, BUT I DOUBT IT. THIS NOT TRYING TO WIN GAMES IS SO BLATANT, THAT I CAN’T BELIEVE MLB WILL NOT INVESTIGATE. THIS IS AN EMBARASSMENT TO THE GAME AND BORDERS ON GAME FIXING. YOU HAVE TO WONDER IF SOME OF THE PIRATE BRASS ARE NOT BETTING ON THE GAMES.

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Pirates Morning Report

FINAL SCORE: PIRATES 7 CUBS 1

WHY THE PIRATES WON: WHEN MICHAEL PEREZ GETS A HIT, LET ALONE A HOME RUN, YOU KNOW IT’S GOING TO BE YOUR DAY. GREG BROWN WAS WONDERING WHY PEREZ WAS STARTING OVER HEINEMAN, SAYING THAT THE SHADOW MUST HAVE HAD A HUNCH. IT IS REAL DIFFICULT PLAYING A 111 BATTING AVERAGE OVER A 125 AVERAGE. IT REALLY DOESN’T MATTER WHICH CATCHER YOU PLAY, THEY BOTH STINK. ROANSY CONTRERAS WAS NOT DOMINANT BUT STILL HELD THE CUBS TO 1 RUN OVER 5 INNINGS. THE BULLPEN COASTED IN FROM THERE, PROTECTING THE 6 RUN LEAD, MAKING SURE THE CUBS DID NOT MAKE THINGS INTERESTING. ANTHONY BANDA HAD ANOTHER GOOD TWO INNING OUTING. THE DFA THAT WASN’T. WHEN THINGS ARE GOING YOUR WAY, THEY ARE GOING YOUR WAY. WITH ALL THE HYPE ABOUT ONEIL CRUZ, THE PLAY OF BLIGH MADRIS HAS GONE SOMEWHAT UNDER THE RADAR. HE HIT HIS FIRST CAREER HOME RUN AND LOOKS REAL GOOD IN THE FIELD. PEOPLE WERE SAYING THAT YOU COULD NEVER REPLACE COLE TUCKER IN RIGHT FIELD. ALL IN ALL, ANOTHER REAL SOLID WIN FOR THE PIRATES.

KEY MOMENT OF THE GAME: WITH 2 OUT IN THE BOTTOM OF THE FIFTH, ONEIL CRUZ CAME UP BIG AGAIN GETTING A BASE HIT TO DRIVE IN RUN NUMBER 4. WHEN HE TRIED TO STEAL SECOND, A BAD THROW INTO CENTER FIELD, ALLOWED DANIEL VOGELBACH TO SCORE THE 5TH RUN. SPEAKING OF THE TURTLE HE HAD A BIG GAME WITH A DOUBLE, SINGLE, TWO WALKS, DROVE IN 2 RUNS AND SCORED ANOTHER. IT WAS ANOTHER EXHAUSTING GAME FOR THE TURTLE. I THINK HE MUST BE RESTED TOMORROW OR IT COULD AFFECT HIS HEALTH.

NEXT GAME: TONIGHT, CUBS IN PITTSBURGH. I KNOW WE ARE PLAYING THE CUBS, BUT WITH THE ADDITION OF CRUZ AND MADRIS, THERE SEEMS TO BE A NEW ENERGY TO THIS TEAM. EVEN THE TURTLE SEEMS TO BE RUNNING FASTER. THERE IS A LOT OF REHAB ASSIGNMENTS GOING ON IN INDIANAPOLIS THIS WEEK. YOU HAVE TO WONDER WHAT THEY ARE REHABBING FOR. SURELY, NOT TO PLAY BASEBALL FOR THE PIRATES.