Game Two: Jon Niese (0-0, 0.00ERA) vs. Michael Wacha (0-0, 0.00ERA)
Result: Pirates win 6-5 (11 innings)
Winning Pitcher: Kyle Lobstein (1-0, 0.00ERA)
Losing Pitcher: Seth Maness (0-1, 7.71ERA)
- What went right:
- Andrew McCutchen continued to really hit Michael Wacha well as he went 3-5 with an RBI and a run scored.
- Pirates’ bullpen was absolutely fantastic, going six innings, allowing zero runs on three hits and striking out six.
- Gregory Polanco celebrated his contract extension by reaching base three times as he went 2-3 with a walk, two RBI and two runs scored.
- Jordy Mercer sent the fans happy as he ended the game with a walk-off single in the 11th inning.
- What went wrong:
- The Pirates played a very poor defensive game, committing two errors and taking poor routes to balls in play.
- The Pirates struck out nine times against the Cardinals bullpen and didn’t have a base-runner from the fifth inning to the 11th.
- Andrew McCutchen was thrown out trying to score from second on a single because of a very poor slide.
- Jonathan Niese wasn’t at his best, but was definitely hurt by poor defense. He went five innings, allowed five runs (four earned) on five hits, struck out seven and walked one.
It seems like every year, the second game of the season is cold and goes extra innings, but it’s all worth it when the Pirates walk away with a win. The Pirates did not play their best game by any means, but did enough to win and that’s pretty much all anyone can ask.
Jonathan Niese did not have the best debut, but you have to be encouraged by the strikeouts and the mostly solid control. With some better defense behind him, his start likely goes much better. I am sure we’ll see a lot better from the new Pirates’ pittcher.
The Pirates won their first series of the season and turned to Juan Nicasio to complete the sweep as he faced Mike Leake in game three.
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