Pittsburgh Pirates Takeaways & Throwaways – Three for the Road

In what started out as a great day for Pittsburgh Pirates baseball – the Bucs coughed up the final game of a four game series to the LA Dodgers 5-4.

The Pittsburgh Pirates started out strong, getting a quick four on the board in the first, but those were given back – and then one in the fifth.

Takeaways

• The bats were working early – Andrew McCutchen is warming up, finding himself, and shaking off that slump and it’s shown in this series. Today, he went to work immediately smacking a double in the first. Starling Marte knocked Jordy Mercer in with a single and then Erik Kratz brought two more men home with a double all within the first.
• Nicasio from the Bullpen – After coming back to the team from the restricted late last week, the Pirates moved starter Nicasio to the bullpen. Wise move. He’s had two very strong outings thus far – today throwing three shutout innings. He got into some trouble in the ninth, loading the bases after nailing Puig in the elbow, but he squeaked out of it, keeping the game within reach for the Bucs. We’ll have more coverage on Nicasio’s early bullpen success tomorrow.

Throwaways

• Francisco Liriano in the 5th – As is almost commonplace for the Pirates this season, the lefty’s inconsistencies on the mound resulted in two runs scoring in the fifth, bringing the game to within one. An RBI double by Puig knocked Frankie out of the game after 5 1/3 innings – forcing Hurdle to go to the bullpen early. No rest for the wicked. Hughes came in and immediately gave up single to Howie Kendrick scoring Trace Thompson, allowing the Dodgers to tie the game and eventually take the lead on a single by AJ Ellis getting Yasiel Puig to score.
• Sloppy Plays in the Fifth – Kratz threw over Josh Harrison‘s head in a pick-off attempt at second enabling Puig to advance to third. Mercer then bobbled the ball on an Ellis single in the fifth allowing Puig to score. These are the kinds of mistakes that lose close ball games. And for the Pirates this season, they all feel close.

W – Scott Kazmir (6-3)

L – Francisco Liriano (4-8)

S – Kenley Jansen (22)

Line of the Day – Juan Nicasio in three innings pitched he gave up one hit and walked two. He could be exactly what this struggling bullpen needs to help on long relief – especially if the offense doesn’t help with run support.

Next Up
Some #LateNightBUCN – The Pirates hop on a plane and go waaaaay west for a two game series beginning Tuesday against the Mariners followed by a three game series against the As. Jonathan Niese (6-5) will face Seattle’s Hisashi Iwakuma (6-6) at 10:10 pm tomorrow night.