Pirates Clinch 19th Straight Losing Season With Defeat To Cardinals

by Zane Heiple

Photo by AP

After being in the running for the division crown throughout the first four months of the season, fans could see the hopes of a plus .500 season slip out of the Pittsburgh Pirates grasp with their awful 8-22 run during the month of August.  Today’s 3-2 loss to the St. Louis Cardinals clinched that 19^th straight losing season to extend the North American record.

The loss today was like many of the losses that Pittsburgh has suffered throughout the 2011 season.  A great pitching performance and solid defense was wasted by lack of offense.  The Pirates offense mustered eight hits today, one more than St. Louis, but only scored two runs.  The second inning started off as a great opportunity to bust the game open.  Derrek Lee started off with a single, which was followed by a double by Ryan Ludwick.  With runners on second and third, Pedro Alvarez came to the plate and grounded into a fielder’s choice, which resulted in Lee being tagged out at home plate.  Next up was Ronny Cedeno who would hit into a double play to end any threat.  This type of inning sums up much of the season.

The Buccos were able to tie the game in the third inning.  After Michael McKenry double, Alex Presley would hit a one out RBI double.  Unfortunately Neil Walker would ground out and then Andrew McCutchen would strike out to leave Presley at third base.  The fourth inning saw the Red Birds score the winning run, as Yadier Molina would double home Lance Berkman and Allen Craig.  Pittsburgh cut into the lead in the sixth inning as Lee would double home Presley. 

Charlie Morton started the game and would go seven innings allowing three runs on six hits.  He would strike out six and walk three, before being lifted in place of Tony Watson.  Watson would strike out two batters and not allow a hit in his inning of work.  Jared Hughes finished the game off with one inning of work in the ninth.

While it is depressing to see another season come and go with the Pirates continuing to lose.  There have been some upsides to this season, which we will talk about in two weeks.  The Buccos wrapped up this nine game home stand with a 3-6 record.  They will now hit the road for seven games starting tomorrow night with a four game series against the Los Angeles Dodgers.  Ross Ohlendorf will take on Dana Eveland with first pitch scheduled for 10:10pm.

Record vs. Cardinals:  7-9
Record vs. N.L. Central:  36-38
Record at PNC Park:  34-44
Overall Record:  67-82

And…

As Always…

Let’s Go Bucs!!!

Walker Ties It, Jones Wins Game For Pirates

by Zane Heiple

Photo by Getty Images

The Pittsburgh Pirates used the long ball to win 5-4 in extra innings over the St. Louis Cardinals.  It started in the third inning, with the Pirates down 1-0, Andrew McCutchen would step to the plate with runners on second and third.  He would then tuck the ball inside the foul pole for a three run homer that gave the Buccos the lead.

The sixth inning saw the Cardinals tie the game at three.  Albert Pujols would hit his thirtieth home run of the year on a solo shot to right field.  After Lance Berkman walked with one out, David Freese would double to right field, scoring Berkman from first base.

Joel Hanrahan came into the game to begin the ninth inning and did not show his best stuff tonight.  He would allow the leadoff batter to double, which was followed up by a sacrifice bunt.  With one out and a runner on third Pujols was intentionally walked to set up the double play.  Matt Holliday hit a sacrifice fly, which at the time looked like the winning run.

Neil Walker had other plans though.  He would lead off the bottom part of the inning with a solo home run to right center field and tie the game at four.  This game would head to extra innings, which had Pirates fans a little worried since Jerry Meals was the umpire behind home plate.  For those of you who don’t remember, he was the umpire during the Pirates-Braves nineteen inning debacle back in July.

This time however Meals opinion at the plate had no bearing on the outcome of this game.  After neither team scored in the tenth, the Cards would get a base runner in the top of the eleventh, but would leave him at first base.  This would allow Garrett Jones to blast a walk off home run over the right field seats and one hop into the Allegheny River.

This was another big win for the Buccos tonight as they look to make up ground in the National League Central Division.  While the playoffs may no longer be in sight, this team is playing to end the 18 year losing curse, and many players are looking to show the deserve to be on the team in 2012. 

Jose Tabata was back on the 25-man roster tonight.  Pedro Alvarez was sent to AAA Indianapolis to make room on the roster.  Pittsburgh management was also able to sign their first and second round picks from the 2011 draft prior to the deadline.  These two signings brought the number of draft picks that the Pirates signed this year to 24.  Tonight’s win gave the Pirates 58, which is one more than they had for all of the 2010 season.

These two teams will wrap up their series tomorrow night PNC Park, with first pitch scheduled for 7:05pm.  Paul Maholm will look to pitch well and receive some run support from the Buccos Bats, while the Cardinals will counter with Kyle Lohse.

Record vs. Cardinals:  5-3
Record vs. N.L. Central:  27-23
Record at PNC Park:  28-32
Overall Record:  58-63

And…

As Always…

Let’s Go Bucs!!!

Cardinals Use Long Ball To Power Past Pirates

by Zane Heiple

Photo by AP

While the Pittsburgh Pirates have improved in many areas this year, the one area that still has much room for improvement is the ability to hit the home run.  The lack of home runs is why the Buccos need to add a bat before the trade deadline if they hope to contend in the N.L. Central.  The St. Louis Cardinals showed what can happen when you have power in the lineup as they would hit three long balls to give them a 6-4 edge over the Pirates.

The first two HR for the Cards came in the first inning off of starter Paul Maholm.  After Garrett Jones narrowly missed a ball at the Clemente wall, Albert Pujols would hit a two run shot to centerfield.  With two outs, Lance Berkman would double and then be brought home on a David Freese homer to right field.

Pittsburgh answered with two runs in the second.  Jones would double and then score when Ronny Cedeno singled.  Maholm would help his own cause by singling home Cedeno.  While the run scored, the first of two costly base running errors would occur as Michael McKenry would be tagged out trying to return to second base. 

St. Louis starter Chris Carpenter was excellent at the plate tonight as he would go 2-4 and drive in a run during the third inning after the batter in front of him, Nick Punto was intentionally walked.   Carpenter would go eight innings allowing four runs on ten hits, while striking out four and walking one.

The Buccos cut into the lead again in the sixth inning when Jones would bring in two runs, but would be thrown out trying to stretch a single into a double.  This proved costly as the two batters after him singled, meaning that the game could have been tied at five, instead of the Cards leading 5-4.

The final home run came in the eighth inning when Yadier Molina went deep off of Pirates reliever Chris Resop. 

This was the second game in a row that the Pirates hurt themselves with costly mistakes.  Tonight it was poor pitch location against a team that has power in their lineup and poor choices on the base paths that possibly cost the team runs.  The loss tonight makes tomorrow night’s game even more important to win so that Pittsburgh has a chance of winning this series on Sunday.  Tomorrow night’s game is scheduled for 7:05.  The Buccos will send Kevin Correia to the bump, while the Cards will counter with Jaime Garcia.

Record vs. Cardinals:  2-2
Record vs. N.L. Central:  24-15
Record at Home:  25-24
Overall Record:  51-46

And…

As Always…

Let’s Go Bucs!!!