Tag: pittsburgh pirates

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Pirates Morning Report: The Woodford Curse Continues

Final Score: Pirates 2. Reds 10

Why The Pirates Lost: The Jake (From State Farms) Woodford curse continued and now it seems to have affected every phase of the Pirates game. The Pirates could not hit, field, run the bases, or throw to the right bases, all day. They only had 3 hits. On the pitching side they got hammered for 10 runs, 12 hits, and walked 3. The curse even ended Ben (Go To) Heller’s scoreless inning streak as he gave up 2 runs in 2 innings to keep his ERA at double digits. The Pirates decided to desecrate the game even more by having Rowdy Tellez pitch the 9th inning. This was one of the worst games of the year for this pathetic group of losers.

Key Moment Of The Game: The first inning Woodford was able to get the first out of the inning. Then 8 out of the next 10 pitches were called balls. On the Tyler Stephenson at bat the first two pitches could have been called strikes but the umpire fell under the curse of Woodford and could not raise his right arm. TJ Friedl singled to right to drive in the first run and the Pirates decided to forget about baseball fundamentals for the rest of the game, another result of the curse. A double, steal of third and a sacrifice fly gave the Reds a quick 4-0 lead. At that point you knew two things. The game was over and the Woodford curse had not been broken.

Next Game: This afternoon, the Reds in Pittsburgh. Luis Ortiz goes for the Pirates today and let’s hope there are no curse left overs. It would be nice to see the Pirates get a series win but I do not think this is likely. Neither one of these teams, that seem to have an abundance of talent, are fundamentally sound. Both teams are unlikely to make the playoffs. I wonder why? Do you think the Shelton knows? I doubt it. Talk about a couple of clueless managers.

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Pirates Morning Report: Big Comeback Win

Final Score: Pirates 6 Reds 5

Why The Pirates Won: After 4 innings, the Pirates trailed 5-0 and had not had a man on base. In the top of the 5th Oneil Cruz made a great defensive play on a sharply hit ground ball to end the inning. Things started going the Pirates way in the bottom of the 5th. They opened the inning with 3 hits, but 2 of the hits had exit velocities of under 70 MPH. Two ground outs, a single, and a throwing error by the Reds, you knew they were going to help some way, enabled the Pirates to score 4 runs and they were back in the game. They added 2 runs in the 6th to take the 6-5 lead they barely held onto. Why oh why are they continuing to use David Bednar in the 9th. After giving up an opening double he somehow escaped without giving up the tying or go ahead run, again. Elly De La Cruz hit an opposite field 95 MPH line drive that Billy (Not Just Bill) McKinney was able to make a sliding catch, to end the game. WOW!

Key Moments Of The Game: The Pirates scored 4 runs in the 5th and 2 runs in the 6th on several hits that were inches from being outs or foul balls. The doubles by the Cruz’s were nothing more than pop ups that were perfectly placed down the right and left field foul lines. Neither ball was hit over 80 MPH and they were just fair by inches. Joey Bart had two singles that were carbon copies of each other that were perfectly placed in center field, again not over 80 MPH. The Pirates scored 2 runs on ground balls because they were weakly hit. It was two innings where everything went right for the Pirates. Aroldis Chapman pitched the 8th and after getting the first 2 outs, gave up a walk and a single to put runners on 1st and 3rd. Thank God, Stuart Fairchild had just watched the Andy Haines hitting video and did not swing at a pitch to strike out on 6 pitches, to end the inning. Bednar got away with his shaky performance and the Pirates had an unexpected come from behind win.

Next Game: Tonight, Reds in Pittsburgh. Jake (Please Don’t Let Me See A Black Cat Today) Woodford will take the mound tonight. If the Pirates somehow win this game tonight, there could be hope for this season. Will the Woodford curse end tonight? Who knows, only the Shelton knows.

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Pirates Morning Report: Skenes + Big 2 Out Crooked Number=Win

Final Score: Pirates 7 Reds 0

Why The Pirates Won: Paul Skenes was his usual brilliant self going 6 innings giving up 2 hits, 1 walk, while striking out 9 batters. In the last 26 out of 27 innings the Pirate’s pitching staff has not been scored upon while allowing 11 hits, walking 4, and striking out 33 batters. Then there’s Bednar. The Pirates put up the big crooked number in the bottom of the fifth, thanks to control issues by Nick Lodolo, a botched run down play, and big hits by the Cruz not brothers, to score 6 runs. Ben (The Pitcher From) Heller watch continues, going another 2 scoreless innings to lower his ERA to 10.61.

Key Moment Of The Game: In that 6 run bottom of the 5th, the Pirates had the bases loaded thanks to 2 walks and a hit by pitch. There were 2 outs, with Bryan Reynolds at the plate. He hit a ground ball up the middle that Elly De La Cruz made a nice stop on and flipped the ball to second. Isiah Kiner-Falefa made the unusual move of just running through the bag and not sliding. He was ruled safe and when the Reds botched up the rundown the Pirates still had the bases loaded and led 1-0. The Pirates would have led 1-0, but the inning should have been over. Joey Bart got hit by a pitch to make the score 2-0. The Pirates scored 2 runs up to that point with only 1 hit and it did not leave the infield. Bryan De La Cruz hit a big 2 out double to clear the bases and this game was over. Thank you, Cincinnati Reds.

Next Game: Tonight, Reds in Pittsburgh. Barry No Falter Insurance goes for the Pirates and despite the win last night I can’t really generate much enthusiasm for this team. The win was related more to the Red’s incompetence than the Pirates skill. The Pirates are to the point where they have to win all of these games against the Reds and Cubs before they can even remotely think about being in the playoff hunt again.

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Pirates Morning Report: After Several Missed Opportunities, Bednar Made Them Pay

Final Score: Pirates 0 Rangers 1

Why The Pirates Lost: Despite getting 8 hits, 2 walks, one hit by pitch, and one Ranger error, the Pirates could not push a run across the plate. They were retired in order 3 times, so they did all of this in 6 innings. They were 0 for 6 with runners in scoring position and left 10 men on base. They struck out 16 times. All of this wasted a surprisingly strong start by Domingo German. He went 6 innings giving up 0 runs, 3 hits, walking 4, striking out 4 while throwing just 75 pitches. Kyle Nicholas and Aroldis Chapman pitched a solid 7th and 8th striking out 5 of the 6 batters they faced. The Pirate pitching staff had held the Rangers scoreless for 22 innings. So far in this game they had given up just 3 hits. In came David (You Should Have Scored Some Runs) Bednar to pitch the bottom of the 9th. The first pitch was hit between first and second and Isiah Kiner-Falefa’s throw from his knees was off line but a normal 1st baseman would have been able to stay on the bag. Of course, we have Tellez. On the 3rd pitch of the inning Adolis Garcia singled to left to put runners on 1st and 2nd. A long fly to right on the 5th pitch of the inning moved the runner to 3rd. Bednar struck out the next batter just to tease us. Wyatt Langford put the Pirates out of their misery with a single to center to win the game. I will say, it was a pretty good pitch on the inside of the plate that he was able to muscle into the outfield.

Key Moments Of The Game: Top of the 2nd, bases loaded 1 out, no runs. Top of the 5th bases loaded 2 outs no runs. Top of the 7th, 1st and 2nd, no outs, thanks to base running blunder, no runs. There were other chances but these were the worst. It is just too painful to write about this game any more.

Next Game: Tonight, Reds in Pittsburgh. Paul Skenes opens the 7 game home stand in 7 days and I can guarantee you he won’t have any trouble making another start before the end of the stand. Enough said, but the pitching staff could not have done much more yesterday. You just can’t overcome an incompetent offense.

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Pirates Morning Report: Cruzin With Keller

Final Score: Pirates 4 Rangers 0

Why The Pirates Won: Mitch Keller had a great bounce back start going 7+ innings allowing only 3 hits, no walks, while striking out 9. The Rangers never had a runner in scoring position the entire game. The Cruz boys Oneil and Bryan De La drove in a total of 3 runs in the 4th inning which was more than enough for the Pirates to win. It was a totally dominant performance by Keller and the bullpen cruzed (I can’t help myself) home to complete a nice win for the Pirates.

Key Moment Of The Game: After going 9 up and 9 down Isiah Kiner-Falefa started the 4th inning with a single to left. Bryan Reynolds and Joey Bart both struck out. Conner Joe on an odd looking swing hit a ball right down the right field line that appeared to hit off the wall back onto the field for a triple and yippee the Pirates had a 1-0 lead. Wrong, odd ground rule breath. The ball hit the railing above wall and a book rule double was the call and the run was taken off the board. The Cruz gang came through to overcome such bad luck, with Bryan De La getting a line drive single that could only be short hopped by the Ranger’s center fielder, and Oneil lined a triple just over the glove of the Ranger’s right fielder to give the Pirates a 3-0 lead that was never threatened.

The Next Game: This afternoon, Rangers in Texas. We don’t know who is starting today for the Pirates. A series win would be very nice on the road. It would be great momentum going into the next 7 home games against the Reds and the Cubs. I wonder if Shelton realizes that. Probably not, but maybe the Pirates will win anyway.

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Pirates Morning Report: Seager 4, Pirates 3

Final Score: Pirates 3 Rangers 4

Why The Pirates Lost: When your 1,2,3,5 and 6 hitters go 1 for 19 with 6 strikeouts, you are not going to win many games. Grandal batting 6th is a mystery to me. I’m in San Diego right now where the Padres are playing the Twins. Carlos Santana and that great glove has hit 18 home runs, slugging .428, has an OPS+110 and a 1.9 WAR. The Pirates saved 2 million dollars by signing Rawhide Rowdy Tellez who has 10 home runs, slugging a whopping .388, an OPS+ 90 and a negative 0.3 WAR. I wrote out the word negative just to emphasize the fact that he stinks. I am sure Bob Nothing is so happy he saved 2 million while he thinks of an excuse not to pitch Skenes on Wednesday. Ortiz pitched a decent game going 6 innings, striking out 7, walking one and giving up 5 hits. However, he grooved 2 pitches right down the middle to Corey Seager, paying the ultimate price as he blasted 2 home runs to drive in all 4 runs.

Key Moment Of The Game: Even though it was counteracted by the Jarod Triolo’s 3 run homer an inning later, the 3 run homer by Seager was the key hit of the game. It was the first pitch of the at bat and it could not have been more grooved down the middle, even if Ortiz had tried to do that. With that Pirate lineup you just had the feeling it was going to be enough to win the game. The Pirates had a few minor threats the rest of the game but could not get the big hit. The are thoroughly entrenched in last place a full 14 games behind the Brewers. The management team should be so proud.

Next game: Tonight, Rangers in Texas. Mitch Keller starts tonight and we will see if he can get his act together after two horrendous starts where he has given up 15 runs in 9 innings of work. Those are Ben Heller kind of numbers. Maybe Grandal will bat clean up tonight.

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Pirates Morning Report: Bounce Back Win, Bullpen Redemption

Final Score: Pirates 4 Diamondbacks 2

Why The Pirates Won: The bullpen came through last night in the name of Kyle Nicholas, Aroldis Chapman, and David (Shaky) Bednar. Bryan Reynolds and Joey Bart provided the offense with Reynolds hitting a 2 run home run and Bart hitting a solo shot and driving in another run. It could have been a rain delay disaster because it took Mitch Keller out of the game. It looked like the Pirates were going to have a 5th inning implosion.

Key Moment Of The Game: The Pirates brought in Dennis (Please No More Close Games For Me) Santana. He quickly loaded the base giving up 2 his and hitting a batter. In came lefty Jalen Beeks who had not been all that impressive in his 1st two outings for the Pirates. The top of the Diamondbacks order was coming up. You could see a big crooked number coming up. But Beeks came through getting a pop up and a strike out. He walked in a run but it was a great battle between him and Joc Pederson. He struck out Pirates killer Josh Bell to end the inning giving up only one run. It was indeed bullpen redemption.

Next Game: This Afternoon Diamondbacks in Pittsburgh. The Pirates have a shot to win the series with Paul Skenes going today. It would be nice to see some offense behind him. Almost a must win today.

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Pirates Morning Report: .500 Road Trip Locked UP

Final Score: Pirates 6 Astros 2

Why The Pirates Won: For two days in a row it was the .200 club that contributed mightily to this win. It is not often you win a game when your 3-4 hitters in the lineup go 1 for 10 and strikeout 7 times. Jared Triolo and Michael Taylor went 2 for 7, with 1 walk, driving in 3 runs. Barry Falter pitched a nice 5 and 1/3 innings coming back from the IL. He gave up 1 earned run on 6hits, walking no one. Dennis Santana came in the bottom of the 6th to snuff out the rally and pitched a scoreless 7th inning. In his last 7 games he has 9 and 2/3 innings and has not given up a run, while striking out 16 batters. Whether it is the change of scenery, or he and the Pirates found something, he has been lights out over his last 10-11 appearances. Glad I was wrong about him. Kyle Nicolas and Hunter Stratton finished up. Even though they had some issues, the Astros failed to score any runs and the Pirates had pretty much of a stress-free win.

The Key Moment Of The Game: In the top of the sixth there were two out, nobody on and Jared Triolo was behind in the count 0-2. Over the next 6 pitches Triolo battled to get a walk. Michael Taylor for the second straight day hit a big 2 out home run to make the score 5-1 Pittsburgh, which gave the Pirates a very nice cushion. The Astros did get a run in the bottom of the inning but never had a major threat going for the rest of the day. The Pirates got the final run on a bases loaded walk to Andrew McCutchen to clinch the series win.

Next Game: Tonight, Astros in Houston. The Pirates will start recently acquired Jake Woodford. He has had an up and down career. Let’s hope he has an up night so the Pirates have a shot at getting the sweep. The Pirates made modest noise at the deadline, which should help the team some. I will discuss that more when the Pirates make their final roster moves. Right now, just basking in the glory of a 3-game road winning streak, against some pretty good competition.

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Pirates Morning Report: Unlikely Heroes Even Up Road Trip

Final Score: Pirates 5 Astros 3

Why The Pirates Won: The .200 Club won this game. Yasmani Grandal, Michael (I Refuse To Write The A) Taylor and Jared Triolo all had big hits to help win this game. Taylor in particular had the big game going 2 for 3 with a homer and 3 RBIs. Paul Skenes had another solid outing allowing only 1 earned run on 5 hits, walking 3, striking out 6, while throwing 101 pitches. He was not his sharpest, but if Ke’Bryan Hayes makes the play on a ground ball, it might have been a double play, and he would have given up 0 runs. This game was very similar to the previous win except the Pirates tied it in the 8th and took the lead in the 9th. The bullpen had another shaky bottom of the last inning but held on to pick up the win. No matters what happens on the rest of the trip, it cannot be consider a disaster.

Key Moments Of The Game: Oneil Cruz’s double to tie the game and Michael Taylor’s 3 run homer to give the Pirates a 5-2 lead came when 2 were out. David Bednar came in to get the save in the bottom of the 9th. After quickly getting one out, things began to go awry. Victor Caratini singled up the middle. Bednar walks the next batter. Jose Altuve singles to left to load the bases. Alex Bregman hit a 102 MPH liner that Michael Taylor was able to snag for the 2nd out. Up to the plate stepped the ever-dangerous Yordan Alvarez who was already 2 for 4 with an RBI. The Pirates decided on a gutsy move by giving him nothing to hit walking him to make the score 5-3 putting the winning run on base and the tying run in scoring position. It paid off as Bednar got Yainer Diaz to pop out to Cruz to end the game. Whew!

Next Game: Tonight, Astros in Houston. Barry Falter returns tonight and at least he is not facing a top of the rotation guy. A 3-3 road trip has now become more of a possibility. More so than the Pirates doing anything to really improve this team. We have about 11 hours to find out.

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Pirates Morning Report: Punchless Pirates Lose Again

Final Score: Pirates 3 Diamondbacks 4

Why The Pirates Lost: In the last 7 innings of the game the Pirates scored 0 runs on 3 hits. The 4 through 7 hitters went 2 for 14. The team was 1 for 11 with runners in scoring position. They left 9 men on base. The Diamondbacks tried to help out by walking 3 and hitting 2 batters but the Pirates refused to take advantage. Oneil Cruz looked like he was suffering from jet lag, his at bats were so bizarre. He took 2 out of 3 strikes to strike out on 3 pitches. To make up for it on his next at bat, he swung at all 6 pitches even though only 1 was in the strike zone, to strike out again. On his 4th at bat, he took 2 strikes and then could not hold up on a pitch that was almost over his head. Mr. Cruz is 6′ 7″. Luiz Ortiz for the first time in a long time had control issues. In just 5+ innings of work Ortiz gave up 3 runs, 5 hits, walking 3, striking out 4, while throwing 93 pitches. With this offense you have to do better than that.

Key Moment Of The Game: It was 3-1 Pirates going into the bottom of the 6th inning. Ortiz had been dancing through the raindrops giving up just 1 run. The inning started off with a bang when Joc Peterson hit an 0-2 fast ball 453 feet to make it 3-2. Then Ortiz walked the next batter and was done for the day. Out went Ortiz and in came Carmen Mlodzinski, who also seemed to be jet lagged. In 5 pitches he gave up 2 singles and before you could say how do spell Mlodzinski, the score was tied 3-3. If the Pirates would have somehow won this game, the next play would have been the play of the game. Eugenio Suarez hit a line drive but right at Ke’Bryan Hayes and he threw out the runner at 1st to complete a very fortunate double play. Mlodzinski took the game into his own hands by throwing a wild pitch to make sure that the Diamondbacks would win the game 4-3. The Pirates never really threatened the rest of the way and the road trip started with a loss.

Next Game: Tonight, Diamondbacks in Arizona. Marco Gonzalez starts for the Pirates tonight and apparently has a good record against the Diamondbacks. When will this team ever get offensive help. The Pirates are 2-3 in their last 5 games. The offense has averaged barely over 2 runs per game. They completely wasted an impressive performance by Paul Skenes. Management continues to do nothing.