This is just a hypothesis at this point, but I don’t think that there’s any more that separates the frustrating Pirates that lost six times in seven games against the Reds, Tigers, and Brewers and the fun Pirates that obliterated the Brewers on Saturday and Sunday than there appears to be at first glance. More succinctly, those six losses in seven games could’ve been ameliorated by either more timely hitting, or longer starts by the rotation (relieving the bullpen of some pressure) or, in some cases, both. On Saturday the Pirates got a great start from Jon Niese. On Sunday, they got a functional one from Juan Nicasio. They continued to put runners on base, and had nine hits with runners on scoring position in the two games combined. They hit three home runs. They won both games easily.
For now two wins are just two wins and 7-6 is just 7-6, but the Pirates do have an opportunity to build on the weekend’s hot streak. They’re in San Diego tonight, playing a Padre team that has only scored 15 runs in 10 games outside of Coors Field this year. No, that’s not a typo and yes, I double-checked my math. They’ll send Francisco Liriano to the mound tonight and Gerrit Cole out tomorrow to boot. In other words, if the wins on Saturday and Sunday were a push for the club in the right direction, then maybe the Padres are the downhill.
First pitch tonight is at 10:10.
Photo by Joe Sargent/Getty Images
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