Any game that sees the Pirates put together a game-tying, two-run, ninth inning rally against a good closer by using only Andrew McCutchen, Jose Tabata, Neil Walker, and Pedro Alvarez can’t be considered a complete waste. The young guys came up with some big hits and McCutchen and Tabata were both heads up and aggressive on the bases swiping key bags in the ninth and it made what was otherwise a bland, boring game an exciting one.
Unfortunately after nine innings when the Pirates have already used Evan Meek and Chris Resop, their bullpen isn’t likely to match up well with anyone. Chan Ho Park did a nice job over two perfect innings and to his credit John Russell got Joel Hanrahan into the game before it was over, but once Wil Ledezma put two guys on without an out there was only one way the game was going to end.
Sidenote: did you guys see Aroldis Chapman last night? I’ve watched him pitch before, but seeing him regularly crack 100 and buckle guys knees with a 90 mph slider is amazing every single time. Let’s hope the Reds lose themselves in the radar gun and keep him in the bullpen, rather than moving him into the rotation where he belongs next year.
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