Takeaways and Throwaways – Pittsburgh Pirates Walked Off by Braves

After a lengthy rain delay, the Pittsburgh Pirates took a late lead over the Atlanta Braves only to be foiled by their own closer

Welcome to Takeaways & Throwaways. Shortly after every Pittsburgh Pirates game, come to Pirates Breakdown to see our flash recap format. We’ll tell you everything you need to know about the game, without making you read the same boring recap you can see anywhere else.

FINAL: Atlanta Braves 6, Pittsburgh Pirates 5

W –  Luke Jackson (1-0, 4.15 ERA) L – Tony Watson (2-1, 3.54 ERA) BS – Watson (2)

Takeaways

• Tyler Glasnow turned in another building-block type of start. He scattered nine hits and two walks over six innings, using 91 pitches (61 for strikes) to get there. It was not the best of starts, it was not the worst of starts. It was a start. In the major leagues. And Glasnow looked the part of a major league starter.
• Glasnow also did his part in the batter’s box , going 3-f0r-3.
• Jordy Mercer came alive, going 2-for-5 and racking up three RBI, including a two-run single in the top of the ninth that put the Pittsburgh Pirates ahead. Mercer’s slash line is still woeful, but if nights like this can spark him, his spot in the order would not be such a black hole.
• Josh Bell, John Jaso and Josh Harrison combined to go 7-for-14.

Throwaways

• Andrew McCutchen went 0-for-freaking-5, grounding into two double plays leaving a total of seven men on base. There is now no way to sugar coat it, and no promise of a turnaround to be had. McCutchen is officially approaching his career nadir, and drastic measures may need to be taken to turn him into a productive bat once again.
• Tony Watson blew his second save of the year, but had the Braves down to their final out before Nick Markakis slugged his 11th double of the year on an 0-1 count to score a run and tie the game. The pitch was actually a good one, down and in on the left-handed hitting Markakis.
• Noted Pittsburgh Pirates-killer Matt Adams then finished things with a walk off single that scored Markakis. I’m not sure if you knew this, but he went to Slipper Rock as well.
• The game saw a three-hour, 12-minute rain delay that pushed the ending of the game to 1:52 AM. Not coincidentally, that delay can also be blamed for reading this TNT the day after.

Line of the Night

Matt Adams gets the pub, but Ender Inciarte had a great night for the Braves, going 3-for-4 from the leadoff spot with a walk and two runs scored, including the game-tying run in the ninth.

Up next

Thankfully, the Pittsburgh Pirates will take the field tonight at 7:35 PM EST in the third game of the four-gamer against the Braves. Trevor Williams will hurl for the Pirates. Williams will look to build upon his previous start, a solid five inning outing. He will face the Brave’s best pitcher in Julio Teheran. They may be catching Teheran at the right time, as the right-hander has a 8.39 ERA over his last three starts with just nine strikeouts in total.