By Chad Carlson
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| Photo Credit: Christian Petersen/Getty Images |
Wow, does anyone want to be in the starting pitching rotation next season? The past few weeks have spelled disaster for Pirates’ starters, as all potential members of the 2012 rotation have been obliterated.
Ross Ohlendorf, though, had a surprisingly solid start last Thursday against the Dodgers, giving up two runs through seven innings, while earning his first victory of the season. The Bucs, and Ohledorf, were hoping he could continue that success this afternoon in the series finale against the Arizona Diamondbacks.
That didn’t happen.
Ohlendorf was tattooed by the Diamondbacks’ batters today, right from the start, and he never even made it out of the third inning. Arizona
He gave up three runs in the first inning, and after getting through the second inning, he surrendered another run in third inning and loaded the bases without recording an out. Clint Hurdle had seen enough and replaced him with Jared Hughes.
In all, Ohlendorf was charged for seven runs on seven hits through 2+ innings. His ERA is now at 8.29. Ouch. Hughes was charged for one run on two hits through his inning of work. The rest of the bullpen, though the game was out of reach, pitched scoreless baseball.
Derrek Lee was the lone positive of today’s game, going 3-4 with a homerun and two RBI’s. With the Pirates’ current first baseman situation up in the air right now, Lee would be a welcomed returner to the club next year. But only time will tell.
Ryan Ludwick hit a solo homerun in the second inning, and Jason Jaramillo smacked a pinch-hit RBI double in the eighth inning. As a team, the Bucs tallied 11 hits, while leaving seven runners on base.
After falling behind 8-1, the Bucs slowly battled back, scoring a single run in the fourth, sixth, seventh, and eighth innings each. They had a chance to creep within a single run in the eighth, but Ryan Doumit grounded out with runners on second and third to end the inning.
Today’s game marked the Pirates’ 87th loss of the season. More worrisome, though, is the fact that they’re struggling to get quality starts. Jeff Karstens and Charlie Morton have continued to show glimpses of what they did earlier in the season, and are favorites to return to the rotation next year, along with Kevin Correia. But there are two other open spots that seem far out of reach for Ohlendorf, Aaron Thompson, Brad Lincoln, or anyone else.
The Pirates have only six games remaining on their schedule this season, three of which will be played against the Cincinnati Reds at PNC Park Pittsburgh
Record Vs. Diamondbacks: 3-3
Record Vs. N.L. West: 13-20
Record On The Road: 35-43
Overall Record: 69-87
And…
As Always…
Let’s Go Bucs!
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