Final Score: Pirates 13 Marlins 1
Why The Pirates Won: The Pirates have won 2 of their last 9 games. The combined scores of the two wins have been 22 to 1. I can’t put too much significance on the wins. Giving credit where credit is due, Braxton Ashcraft pitched himself one hell of a game, going the distance in just 85 pitches while giving up 1 run on 3 hits. He struck out 10 and walked one. The Pirates got 5 of their runs against a position player. Beyond that, there was no question the bats came alive for the 2nd time in 9 games. The Marlins still won the series to keep the Pirates at bay. The Pirates will open a 6-game homestand against the Red Sox and Tigers.
Key Moments of the Game: Ashcraft got the Marlins to ground into three big double plays. He walked the second batter of the game in the first but two pitches later, got the next batter to ground into the double play on a very nifty play by Jared Triolo. After an opening single in the fourth, he induced the second double play three pitches later. This was still when the game was scoreless. With the score 2-0 in the bottom of the fifth, there was a third double play after a leadoff single. In the top of the sixth, the Pirates put a three-spot up on the board to take a 5-0 lead. Ashcraft retired the side in both the bottom of the sixth and seventh. The Pirates really broke the game open in the eighth and ninth, leaving the only question: would Ashcraft get his complete game? He did with ease, giving up a bottom of the ninth home run. The Pirates will have a well-rested bullpen going into the homestand. Will Don Kelly know how to use it? Highly unlikely, but we will see.
Next game: Tonight, the Red Sox, in Pittsburgh. The Pirates face another team that is fighting for a playoff spot but in the American League. The Red Sox are holding down the 2nd Wild Card spot by 5 games and trail the Yankees by 3 games for the top wild card spot. They have rattled off 15 game and 9 game winning streaks over the last 6 weeks. However currently they had lost 5 in a row but snapped the losing streak yesterday by beating the Blue Jays. This could be good for the Pirates. They need to get on a roll just to save some face. Bubba Chandler is going for the Pirates, with the Red Sox countering with lefty Jake Bennet. As we all know the Pirates have trouble with lefties. Let’s hope they get over it. Stay Tuned.
The Goofy Game of Golf/Life Searching for the Answer 