@ Marlins (1-2)
vs. Cardinals (4-1)
vs. Rockies (2-1)
vs. Marlins (3-0)
@ Rockies (0-3)
@ Cardinals (???)
I know don't know if I've ever seen a schedule bunch up the opponents like that (especially considering that those series against the Rockies and Marlins are the only ones all year).
After taking 4 of 5 in the big Cards series, the Pirates had the pleasure of hosting 2 not-so-great teams. I'm not gonna say terrible (the Marlins especially have come on of late, I think they're playing over .500 ball in their past 2 months or something) but these teams are certainly beatable, and it'd be great to put as much separation between us and the Cards before we head to Busch Stadium.
The Bucs ended up going 5-4 in this stretch, while the Cards went 4-6 against the likes of the Reds, the red-hot Dodgers, and the Cubs. Fine by me.
The Burnett compete game Sunday 4 August was pretty great. As were the 2 walk-off wins that bookended the Marlins series (Harrison's HR and Martin's RBI single). And let's not forget Charlie Morton's good start in the middle. That was a good series for the Bucs for sure, all comeback wins too!
Landmark Game: 8 August - Marlins 4 Pirates 5 F/10 Man, that game was awesome! To be down 4-0 and to comeback for the 3rd straight game was really cool. Martin seems to be some kind of walk-off machine.
On the tail of 5 straight wins the Bucs head to Coors Field. Now, let's just say that stadium does not play to the Bucs' strengths, which are pitching and defense. That was never more evident than during this series sweep at the hands of the Rox. In game one Liriano got obliterated. And how. Hit after hit after hit, the Pirates just could not get any outs at the beginning of that game.
It was really weird too, not just because the hits were all falling, but Liriano honestly didn't look that bad from the get go. I mean he obviously wore down as any pitcher would when no outs are gotten behind him, but when he was getting hit at the start he didn't look that bad. Once he gave up that HR then things were out of hand anyway.
Offensively, the Pirates got so close to breaking out but just could get anything done, leaving that bases loaded in both of the first two innings, only getting 1 run on a sacrifice fly in the 2nd. And not only we're they getting on base early, but they were tatooing the balls to left (and when I say to left, I mean only to left, one weird thing was that every single the Bucs hit in those first two inning was a line drive to left field - just when they would load the bases the offense would lock up though).
Oh well.
The 2nd game. Another loss, but the bigger story was that Marte was removed from the game with and injury to his left hand. Ouch. Marte's had his ups an downs, but there is no question the Pirates are way better when he's in the lineup and playing well.
Burnett was pitching well until the 6th, when he just couldn't get out of the inning. The Rockies scored 5 and the Bucs were done after that.
Game 3 was the most heartbreaking of the lot. Locke, who's struggled in his past 3ish starts got things mostly back on track, though he was a bit wild. 5 2/3 IP, 1 ER (2 R), 3 H, 4 BB, 3 K's.
Locke was called for a balk on a questionable call in the 3rd, which allowed Charlie Blackmon to advance from 2nd to 3rd with 1 out. He would score on a sac fly, making the score 2-1. In the 6th, the Rockies tied it on Pedro Alvarez's throwing error (but he hit a solo jack earlier in the game so at worst he was a neutral effect on the game). Then the big blow, a 2 out double in the 7th by Arenado to score Rosario from 1st. 3-2 Rockies.
As if the way they lost the lead wasn't tough enough. The Pirates clawed back to the brink in the 9th. Walker led off with a single. Martin struck out. Then Tony Sanchez hit a double. If there had been two outs, Walker scores no problem, but with 1 out he had to hold up to see if the ball was caught before he could run, and he advanced to 3rd on the play. The Pirates then failed to knock him in that last 90ft, Mercer lining out to third and Presley popping out to third. Damn.
The Bucs head to St. Louis and hope to get the wind back in their sails after a slightly deflating trip. You gotta keep looking at the big picture though! The Bucs are 3 games up on the Cards, and at worst will emerge from this series tied for 1st in the division. Let's hope that's not the actual result. I'm crossing my fingers for 2 of 3. Let's go Bucs!
I know don't know if I've ever seen a schedule bunch up the opponents like that (especially considering that those series against the Rockies and Marlins are the only ones all year).
After taking 4 of 5 in the big Cards series, the Pirates had the pleasure of hosting 2 not-so-great teams. I'm not gonna say terrible (the Marlins especially have come on of late, I think they're playing over .500 ball in their past 2 months or something) but these teams are certainly beatable, and it'd be great to put as much separation between us and the Cards before we head to Busch Stadium.
The Bucs ended up going 5-4 in this stretch, while the Cards went 4-6 against the likes of the Reds, the red-hot Dodgers, and the Cubs. Fine by me.
The Burnett compete game Sunday 4 August was pretty great. As were the 2 walk-off wins that bookended the Marlins series (Harrison's HR and Martin's RBI single). And let's not forget Charlie Morton's good start in the middle. That was a good series for the Bucs for sure, all comeback wins too!
Landmark Game: 8 August - Marlins 4 Pirates 5 F/10 Man, that game was awesome! To be down 4-0 and to comeback for the 3rd straight game was really cool. Martin seems to be some kind of walk-off machine.
On the tail of 5 straight wins the Bucs head to Coors Field. Now, let's just say that stadium does not play to the Bucs' strengths, which are pitching and defense. That was never more evident than during this series sweep at the hands of the Rox. In game one Liriano got obliterated. And how. Hit after hit after hit, the Pirates just could not get any outs at the beginning of that game.
It was really weird too, not just because the hits were all falling, but Liriano honestly didn't look that bad from the get go. I mean he obviously wore down as any pitcher would when no outs are gotten behind him, but when he was getting hit at the start he didn't look that bad. Once he gave up that HR then things were out of hand anyway.
Offensively, the Pirates got so close to breaking out but just could get anything done, leaving that bases loaded in both of the first two innings, only getting 1 run on a sacrifice fly in the 2nd. And not only we're they getting on base early, but they were tatooing the balls to left (and when I say to left, I mean only to left, one weird thing was that every single the Bucs hit in those first two inning was a line drive to left field - just when they would load the bases the offense would lock up though).
Oh well.
The 2nd game. Another loss, but the bigger story was that Marte was removed from the game with and injury to his left hand. Ouch. Marte's had his ups an downs, but there is no question the Pirates are way better when he's in the lineup and playing well.
Burnett was pitching well until the 6th, when he just couldn't get out of the inning. The Rockies scored 5 and the Bucs were done after that.
Game 3 was the most heartbreaking of the lot. Locke, who's struggled in his past 3ish starts got things mostly back on track, though he was a bit wild. 5 2/3 IP, 1 ER (2 R), 3 H, 4 BB, 3 K's.
Locke was called for a balk on a questionable call in the 3rd, which allowed Charlie Blackmon to advance from 2nd to 3rd with 1 out. He would score on a sac fly, making the score 2-1. In the 6th, the Rockies tied it on Pedro Alvarez's throwing error (but he hit a solo jack earlier in the game so at worst he was a neutral effect on the game). Then the big blow, a 2 out double in the 7th by Arenado to score Rosario from 1st. 3-2 Rockies.
As if the way they lost the lead wasn't tough enough. The Pirates clawed back to the brink in the 9th. Walker led off with a single. Martin struck out. Then Tony Sanchez hit a double. If there had been two outs, Walker scores no problem, but with 1 out he had to hold up to see if the ball was caught before he could run, and he advanced to 3rd on the play. The Pirates then failed to knock him in that last 90ft, Mercer lining out to third and Presley popping out to third. Damn.
The Bucs head to St. Louis and hope to get the wind back in their sails after a slightly deflating trip. You gotta keep looking at the big picture though! The Bucs are 3 games up on the Cards, and at worst will emerge from this series tied for 1st in the division. Let's hope that's not the actual result. I'm crossing my fingers for 2 of 3. Let's go Bucs!
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