Hey All,
The struggling Pirates faced the Brewers this afternoon in game three of this three game series, and it was one for the pitchers. Charlie Morton was on the mound for the Bucs and did a fantastic job with the Brewers lefty's, who Morton has struggled with this season. Pittsburgh, who is 12 games back in the division, need to pick up a win against the division leader Milwaukee Brewers to try and start a amazing come back. The Pirates have all the chances in the world to try and make another run at the division and the post season with the schedule they have coming up. The Bucs have the NL Central teams the next few series on the schedule. Since they finished their series with the Brewers, they now have the Cardinals at home for a 3 game set, then face the reds for a 3 game set right after that. This couldn't have came at a better time for Pittsburgh. Since they went into the slump they are in, being 12 games back and only going 3-3 in the past six games, the Pirates need to have wins in the next 2 series coming up. If the Pirates can and get out of the mouth of August, they can cut down on the lead that the Brewers have over them in the division.
In the game Vs. the Brewers, Charlie Morton went 7 1/3 innings and struck out 5, and only gave up 1 ER. This is what the Pirates have been lacking since they've been on the losing streak. The only thing I would have done differently in game was leave Varas in, when he came in to relieve Morton. I know what Hurdle was thinking bringing in the The Hammer with one out in the 8th to try and close the inning out, but it back fired on them. Joel Hanarhan picked up his 2nd blown save this season when he struck out Morgan, but it was a wild pitch that went into the dirt and Morgan made it to first safely. This put runners on the corners for the Brewers and not what the Bucs wanted to see because that drove in the lead off man that Morton gave up while he was in. Pittsburgh fought back in the 9th inning though after the first man up struck out, the Pirates then put 2 on in Ludwick, and Cedeno. Ludwick reached with a sharply hit ball up the first base line and through the legs of Fielder. After being down to their last out the Bucs Steve Pearce on a 2-2 pitch stuck out swinging leaving the game 1-1. The Pirates just couldn't seen to produce any offense since the 1st inning when McCutchen drove in a run on a fly ball to center field. Since then no one could score a run until last in the game in the bottom of the 8th. In the bottom of the 9th, with Hanarhan still in the game, the Pirates were still fighting. Everyone thought this game was going to go to the Bucco's; because when they've had a lead through 8 innings they are 50-0 this season, but when they were tied after 8 innings they are just 5-7. The Hammer came through in the 9th inning with a fly out and 2 strike outs to end the inning and send the game into extras. The Pirates in the top of the 10th inning had a base runner in Paul, who was moved over by a sacrifice bunt by Josh Harrison. This brought McCutchen to the plate, who has had a lot of swing and misses this game. McCutchen worked a full count and eventually struck out swinging. This brought Neal Walker to the plate who was intentionally walked with 2 outs. I didn't understand this because it brought Ryan Ludwick to the plate who has pick up a couple good hits in game, even thought they were recorded errors. Plus, Walker an this road trip has not hit well at all for the Pirates. The Brewers walked Ludwick as well, not intentionally though, loading the bases. Brandon Wood was up next who chopped a ball that went maybe a foot in front of the plate which made the last out easy for the catcher to touch home plate for the force out. Everyone, including myself, did not want this to be another marathon game like the 19 inning game the Pirates had earlier in the season. This would not be the case, the Brewers would end the game in the bottom of the 10th inning of a sacrifice fly by Morgan to score the winning run in walk off fashion. The Pirates just can't catch a break here late in the season, let's hope for a better outcome in the series against the Cardinals at PNC Park.
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