Pittsburgh Pirates Series Recap – Pirates get Flushed by Mets

The Pittsburgh Pirates are playing their worst baseball of the 2016 season. They attempted to right the ship against a team they have beat in nine of the last 10 games.

Game One: Jameson Taillon (0-0, 4.50ERA) vs. Jacob deGrom (3-2, 2.80ERA)

Result: Pirates win 4-0

Winning Pitcher: Jameson Taillon (1-0, 1.93ERA)

Losing Pitcher: Jacob deGrom (3-3, 2.82ERA

• What went right:
  • Jameson Taillon was an absolute beast. He took a no-hitter into the seventh inning before Curtis Granderson snuck a single through the infield. He finished the game strong and went eighth innings, allowed zero runs on one hit and struck out five.
  • Jung Ho Kang had a very good game. He went 2-3 with a home run, two RBIs, a run scored and a walk.
  • Starling Marte also had himself a pretty big game. He went 2-4 with a much needed insurance home run. He finished with a home run, two RBIs and a run scored.
  • Gregory Polanco reached base twice. He went 1-3 with a walk and a run scored.

• What went wrong:
  • Pirates went 0-5 with runners in scoring position.
  • Curtis Granderson broke up the no-hitter in the seventh inning.
  • Tony Watson closed out the game but allowed a lead-off double to pinch hitter Matt Reynolds.
  • Jacob deGrom pitched very well for the Mets. He went six innings, allowed two runs on six hits and struck out nine.

The Pirates have definitely been in a funk, but thankfully they were able to end their five game losing streak thanks to Jung Ho Kang, Starling Marte and of course Jameson Taillon. They looked to win the series with … on the mound in game two.

Game Two: Jeff Locke (5-4, 5.38ERA) vs. Noah Syndergaard (6-2, 2.00ERA)

Result: Pirates lose 11-2

Winning Pitcher: Noah Syndergaard (7-2, 1.91ERA)

Losing Pitcher: Jeff Locke (5-5, 5.92ERA)

• What went right:
  • John Jaso had a very good game from the lead-off spot. He went 3-4 with a run scored.
  • David Freese had a pinch hit RBI double and scored a run.
  • Gregory Polanco went 1-4.
  • Pirates weren’t shut out!

• What went wrong:
  • Noah Syndergaard was a beast for the Mets. He went 8.1 innings, allowed two runs (one earned) on five hits and struck out 11.
  • Yoenis Cespedes had a big game. He went 3-4 with three runs scored.
  • Wilmer Flores did a lot of damager as he went 2-5 with a home run, four RBIs and two runs scored.
  • Jeff Locke was absolutely terrible for the second straight start. He lasted just four innings, allowed seven runs on nine hits and walked one.

This game was pretty much lost from jump. Jeff Locke pitched terribly and the offense couldn’t muster anything until the ninth inning. The Pirates looked to still win the series with Juan Nicasio on the mound for game three.

Game Three: Juan Nicasio (5-5, 5.34ERA) vs. Bartolo Colon (5-3, 3.08ERA)

Result: Pirates lose 6-4

Winning Pitcher: Bartolo Colon (6-3, 3.01ERA)

Losing Pitcher: Juan Nicasio (5-6, 5.83ERA)

Save: Jeurys Familia (22, 3.38ERA)

• What went right:
  • Andrew McCutchen finally had a slump busting performance. He went 3-4 with a home run, one RBI and a run scored.
  • Matt Joyce went 2-4 with a long home run, one RBI and a run scored.
  • A.J. Schugel did a great job in relief as he went 2.2 innings, allowed zero runs on two hits and struck out five.
  • Josh Harrison went 2-4 with a RBI from the lead-off spot.

• What went wrong:
  • Bartolo Colon pitched a fantastic ballgame for the Mets. He went 7.2 innings, allowed two runs on seven hits and struck out a season high eight. He also had a double and a run scored as a batter.
  • Curtis Granderson lead off the game with a solo home run and the Pirates never really recovered.
  • Juan Nicasio pitched extremely poorly. He lasted 4.1 innings, allowed six runs on seven hits and walked two.
  • Neil Walker had a big game as he went 2-4 with a home run, three RBIs and a run scored.

Final Thoughts