Pirates Squeak Out a Win Again in What Should Have Been an Easy One
Despite the best efforts of the pitching staff, the Pittsburgh Pirates eeked out a 12-9 victory over the Atlanta Braves in a game, that in what felt like a case of deja vu all over again, should never have gotten as close as it did.
Takeaways
- Buccos bats stayed hot, despite what felt like – after the third inning at least – an effort on behalf of the Pirates pitching staff to sink the game. John Jaso, Matt Joyce, Francisco Cervelli, Josh Harrison, Andrew McCutchen, Jung-ho Kang (in his return to PNC for the first time this season), Gregory Polanco, Jordy Mercer and even Juan Nicasio put in the work to get the team a season-high 12 runs on 21 hits throughout the game. Unfortunately, most were met by responses by a Braves team that was battling under new leadership after their manager, Freddie Gonzales was fired, reportedly through an email from an airline earlier in the day.
- Pirates color men for the win! Bob Walk was on his game tonight issuing an “All Hands on Deck” call on the Renegades of the Rotunda for flag-waving support in the third after Nicasio took a turn for the worse on the mound and loaded the bases. Steve Blass also wins major points for quoting Ferris Bueller, “Go home, it’s over” after the Pirates secured the, not so certain, win.
Throwaways
- Pitching – Everything was sailing along for the Bucs, who, after two innings were leading 9 – 0. But, in the uncomfortable fashion we’ve seen these past two nights, things started falling apart like a wet graham cracker in the third when pitcher Juan Nicasio gave up three – A Mallex Smith two-run homer and a single to Gordon Beckham that scored Ender Inciarte. That was only the beginning of the carnage. Freddie Freeman reached on an error by Jaso in the fifth scoring Inciarte – again. Nick Markakis socred on a DP ball by AJ Piezynski, bringing the score to 9-5 Pirates. Nicasio was pulled after five in favor of Ryan Vogelsong, who gave up two runs. Arquimedes Caminero took over duties in the top of the seventh and gave up a HR to Mallex Smith to bring the game to 11-9 Pittsburgh. Neftali Feliz entered the game for an inning. Watson took over duties in the top of the eighth and FINALLY delivered the clean inning the Bucs needed. This of course, led to a score of 12-9 in the ninth – and the ridiculous need to use Mark Melancon for a third night in a row. The key word here is RIDICULOUS. This performance – with the bats delivering what they did two nights in a row – spells T-R-O-U-B-L-E for Pirates pitching. Even thought the latter bullpen guys did their jobs – it bear repeating that most nights, they shouldn’t have had to work at all.
- Latter inning laziness. Polanco, who was working the opposite corner from his own tonight as proud papa Starling Marte enjoys another night at home on paternity leave with his expanded family, didn’t put the jets on when easy balls fell into his corner. Once the Braves started scoring, the entire team looked as if the wind was beaten out of their sails. I wouldn’t go so far as to say they were listless – but the hustle we saw against the Cubs was certainly not there.
W– Juan Nicasio (4-3)
L – Aaron Blair
S – Mark Melancon (13)
Line of the Night
Francisco Cervelli secured a 3-yea $30 million contract extension by the Pirates today. So no doubt, he was having himself a game. He went 3 for 5 tonight, with 2 RBIs and 2 runs. His energy was high and it reverberated throughout the ballpark.
Up Next
Fracisco Liriano (3-2) is expected to take on Julio Teheran (0-4) as the Pirates 21-17 work to secure the series win over the 9-29 Braves at 7:05 p.m.
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