Sunday, May 17, 2015

Bucs Leave Runners, Runners Everywhere In 4-1 Loss

Yep, this team can frustrate a fan. They score ten runs and lose, as they did Friday, then leave 14 runners in scoring position the next and lose 4-1, yesterday's MO.

Gerrit Cole brought the heat yesterday - his fastball was clocked at 100 or better eight times - but allowed two runs scored by Kris Bryant, set up both times by an Anthony Rizzo single behind him followed by a productive out. It was a pretty strong outing by Cole, who gave up seven hits and a walk while whiffing eight in six frames. He kept it a game, leaving behind 2-1.

Gerrit brought the heat, but couldn't bring home the win 
(photo:Ed Absalon/USA Today)
The bottom of the seventh and top of the eighth determined the final outcome. Arquimedes Caminero toed the rubber in the seventh, and when the smoke cleared, the Cubs had two more runs on three walks with a balk; a wild pitch and a sac fly brought the runners home. Chicago put up all four runs without a hit with RISP, plating their tallies on two sac flies, a grounder and wild pitch. The Pirates, though, had one more surge left in the eighth.

Brian Schlitter was on the hill, replacing Jon Lester, and Starling Marte greeted him with single and reached third on Jung-Ho Kang's double. Phil Coke replaced him to get a lefty-on-lefty match with El Coffee, who tapped back to the mound. Jason Mott took the ball to face Sean Rodriguez, whose solo homer was the Buc's only scoring hit. Pedro hit for him, and K'ed on a 3-2 foul tip. Stew was the last hope and lined a fastball to right; Jorge Soler was there for the grab, and the Bucs came up empty. A 1-2-3 ninth against Chicago's newest bullpen member, Travis Wood, closed it out.

AJ will try to save a game of the series this afternoon against Jake Arrieta.
  • Marte and Kang had three hits; Josh had two more. 
  • Ouch - on Friday, the Pirates lost their sixth walk-off game; they've won none.
  • Charlie Morton will make one more rehab start at Indy on May 19th; we'd expect him to rejoin the rotation if all goes as expected after that.
at

2 comments:

  1. AnonymousMay 17, 2015 at 10:04 AM

    More than a bit dissapointing at the mid-May mark for our Buccos.

    Thought that the come-back on Friday night could have led to a signature win - but Polanco tripped.

    AJ has been better than expected but Worley has been worse - exact opposites from last year.

    We cannot beat the Cubs or Cardinals (or the REDS for that matter). This could be a long season - though it's still early. no reason to panic.

    We seem to not have jelled as a unit. Chemistry seems off. Loss of Russ on Defense and from a Leadership perspective.

    I like Kang more than I thought I would. Props to the Bucs for finding/signing him.

    Frustrated Cincy Bucco

    ReplyDelete
  2. Ron IeraciMay 17, 2015 at 10:19 AM

    I agree, Dave. they have a couple of holes to address at first base and the back of the rotation, that's for sure. Maybe Charlie will bounce back. Spotty back-end relief work hasn't helped, but the mid inning guys are getting exposed more than they should; the starters just don't get very deep into games. Kang has been a pleasant surprise; Jordy better start finding some grass pretty soon. It is early, but letting the Cards and Cubs sprint ahead isn't a real good game plan.

    ReplyDelete