Pirates Still Can't Solve Brewers, Lose 1-0

By Chad Carlson

Photo Credit: Mark Hirsch/Getty Images

To put it simply, the Pirates can’t beat the Brewers.  Typically, it is due to the high-powered offense of the Brew-Crew, and our Buccos can’t keep pace with the hits and runs.  That is frustrating enough for fans to endure, game after game, year after year. 

But what is even more agonizing is a game like Saturday’s at Miller Park…where we get a fantastic outing from a starting pitcher, who only surrenders a single run, and we STILL can’t beat the Brewers.

Kevin Correia pitched a nice game for Pittsburgh, giving up just one run on seven hits through 6.2 innings.  Chris Resop and Daniel McCutchen came in and were solid out of the bullpen, working out of a couple of jams in the latter innings to keep the game within reach.

Unfortunately, despite the strong performance, Correia lost his 11^th game of the season.  Yuniesky Betancourt belted a solo homerun to deep left center in the second inning to score the game’s only run.  Milwaukee won the game, and clinched the series’ victory,  1-0.

The Pirates managed just three hits all afternoon, but had a golden chance in the ninth inning to at least tie the game.  Xavier Paul led off the inning with a pinch-hit triple.  Andrew McCutchen and Matt Diaz hit back-to-back groundouts, unable to push Paul across the plate.  After Garrett Jones drew a walk, Neil Walker struck out to end the threat and the ballgame.

Marco Estrada earned his third win for Milwaukee, while John Axford recorded his 34^th save of the season.

This was a frustrating loss for the Pirates…more difficult to swallow than the 7-2 beat down on Friday night.  The fact the our pitchers were able to hold the Brewers’ offense to just one run is impressive…but those are the types of games we HAVE to win if we’re going to be able to compete with the teams at the top of the division.

Paul’s triple with no outs in the ninth should have been a guarantee that the Pirates would tie the game.  With our one, two, and three hitters coming to the plate, again, it shouldn’t have been a doubt that we’d score a run.  Games like the one on Saturday are proof that the Pirates may not be ready to compete long term with the likes of the Cardinals and Brewers.

The Buccos will try to avoid the sweep this afternoon at Miller Park.  Charlie Morton will make the start for Pittsburgh, who will look to earn their first victory of the season against the Brewers.

Record Vs. Brewers: 0-7

Record Vs. N.L. Central: 25-22

Record On The Road: 30-30

Overall Record: 56-62

And…

As Always…

Let’s Go Bucs!