Takeaways and Throwaways – Pirates Lose in Extras

The Pittsburgh Pirates lost a closely contested game 4-3 in the 10th inning against the Los Angeles Dodgers.

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FINAL:  Los Angeles Dodgers 4, Pittsburgh Pirates 3

Takeaways

• Ivan Nova continues to to impress.  He gave up 7 hits and, uncharacteristically for him, 2 walks, in 6 and 1/3rd innings pitched yet he allowed only 2 runs.  He made only one big mistake pitch on the home run by Yasmani Grandal.  Ivan Nova‘s ERA after the game sits at 2.23 good for third best in the National League among qualified pitchers.
• Felipe Rivero relieved Nova in the 7th with one out and Chase Utley at third.  He beaned Corey Seager but then made a nice play at the plate on a comebacker from Justin Turner to get the second out and prevent a run from scoring.  Then he struck out Cody Bellinger with several pitches registering triple digit miles per hour.
• Max Moroff had his first hit of the season and drove in his first Major League run.  This RBI tied the game at 2-2 in the 7th inning.
• John Jaso pinch hit for Rivero in the top of the 8th a launched a high home run over the right field wall to give the Pittsburgh Pirates a 3-2 lead.  It’s a shame this score did not hold up.

Throwaways

• Gregory Polanco may have lost the game twice for the Pittsburgh Pirates.  He got the start in right field, as opposed to left field where he has played most of this season.   In the top of the 9th, Polanco misread a line drive that could have been caught.  He initially backpedaled and then had to run forward and slide to try and make the catch.  The ball bounced out of his glove setting up the Dodgers tying run in the bottom of the 9th.  Then in the 10th inning he bobbled the ball on pinch hitter Autsin Barnes’ double to the right field gap.  Had he fielded the ball cleanly, there may have been a play at the plate on pinch runner Ross Stripling (yes you read that correctly) who ended up scoring from first.
• Gift Ngoepe had a night to forget.  He wore the golden sombrero with four Ks in four at bats.  They weren’t cheap strikeouts as he went to a full count in three of the four at-bats, but that is probably poor consolation for the rookie.
• Daniel Hudson allowed the game winning run to score on a hard hit line drive.  This is unfortunate as Hudson had done a nice job of not allowing a run in his last four appearances.

Line Of the Night

Ivan Nova: 6.1 IP, 7 hits, 2 earned runs, 2 Ks, 2 BBs

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Up Next

The Pittsburgh Pirates rookie brigade tries to fend off the sweep tomorrow night in their third and final game at Dodger Stadium.  Chad Kuhl takes the mound for the Pirates.  Kuhl’s last start was a short one, leaving the game after taking a grounder off his kneecap.  However, he seems none the worse for wear and ready to go.  The Dodgers will counter with Kenta Maeda, a right hander who has struggled to a 5.81 ERA in 6 starts so far this year.  given that the Pirates almost got no-hit by two left handed starters on back to back nights, they are probably happy to see a righty on the mound.