Final Score: Pirates 4 Twins 0
Why The Pirates Won: The Pirate pitching staff held the Twins scoreless for the 2nd straight game. When you shutout the other team you are eventually going to win. This time eventually came in the 7th inning when Rawhide Rowdy Tellez hit his second homer of the year with one out to give the Pirates a 1-0 lead. They added 3 more runs in the 8th when Rawhide Rowdy got a big 2 out single to knock in runs 2 and 3 followed up by a Michael Taylor single that brought a bronco busting Tellez home with the 4th run. It was a bullpen game for the Pirates with Mlodzinski, Ortiz, the bulk guy, Bruihl, Stratton, Holderman, and Bednar all combining to throw the 6-hit shutout. The Twins did have some traffic on the base paths, but the Pirates were aided by them hitting into 3 double plays. The Pirates are now just 2 games below .500
Key Moment Of The Game: Justin Bruihl took over for Luis Ortiz in the top of the 7th, after Ortiz had pitched a splendid 4 and 1/3 innings giving up 3 hits and a walk, while throwing 58 pitches. He made a case for becoming the 5th starter. Bruihl gave up a single, but it was quickly erased by a 4-6-3 double play. He then hit the next batter and gave up another single to put runners on 1st and 2nd. When the Twins brought up a right-handed pinch hitter, Manuel Margot, Shelton went to Hunter (I Can’t Believe It) Stratton. I figured the game was over. On the 3rd pitch of the at bat, Margot hit a little blooper out over the 2nd base bag. My first thought was not only does Stratton stink, but he is also snakebit. Nick Gonzales made a great play on the ball, catching it backhand while sliding to the ground. If he does not make that play the Twins score at least 1 run maybe 2, but worse than that, Stratton would have had to face another batter. After that Rawhide Rowdy took over the game and the Pirates had a 4-0 win.
The Next Game: This afternoon, the Twins in Pittsburgh. Jared Jones will start for the Pirates today, looking to extend the Twins scoreless streak which now stands at 22 innings. Even if the Pirates do not shut them out for the third consecutive game it would be really nice to get this sweep, as the Pirates head to road next week. They will play three in St. Louis and three in Denver. Let’s use those brooms today, Pirates.
The Goofy Game of Golf/Life Searching for the Answer 