Myers Leads Padres To 5-2 Win

And another little delay due to some summer rain...took a bit to shape up the field since the tarp never came out during the storm *ahem* but after spreading some kitty litter, it was play ball after a half-hour delay. After two outs in the first, the Padres juiced the bases on a walk, single, and bop but Gerrit Cole K'ed his way into the dugout. Starling was plunked by Dinelson Lamet to open; a quick GIDP and whiff calmed that sea. SD got a single and steal in the second; the Bucs made not a peep. A walk and a swinging bunt in the third put a Friar in scoring position; a two-out double by Wil Myers that barely got down in front of a sliding Marte brought him home. No Pirates noise again. The Padres opened with a single/double combo in the fourth; a pop, comebacker and fly left the runners in place. Cutch walked with two gone and J-Bell singled for the Bucs first rap but J-Hay couldn't keep the tango going. The Friars got a swinging bunt single that Amore did everything but get the out call on in the fifth; it hurt when Myers took Cole deep on the next pitch, crushing a heater. Nada from Pittsburgh again.

J-Bell had two of the Bucs six hits (photo Pittsburgh Pirates)

In the sixth, Lemat singled just to rub it in; he has as many hits now as the Pirates. The Buccos drew back-to-back two out walks and Phil Maton came on to retire J-Bell. Wade LeBlanc took over in the seventh. Fran got clipped on a backswing and was checked out; he hung in, but we'll see how it feels tomorrow. Myers walked with two outs, which proved a smart play. J-Hay gave the Bucs a pulse with a blast to left center and Cervy singled an out later. Freeser pinch-hit and collected a two-out knock followed by a Starling walk. Buddy Baumann toed the slab to match up with Fraze, who slapped a single to left to make it 3-2 (Joey Cora held Freeser at third, tho with two outs...) Craig Stammen answered the call to toss to Cutch and got him on a pop. Huddy worked the eighth (nope, no idea why Juan was sitting; guess being a run behind wasn't close enough to use him) A single and Dusty Coleman's homer got the two runs back in a hurry. That was followed by a walk, but an around-the-horn DP and K erased that threat. Kirby Yates took the ball. J-Bell singled and J-Hay banged the next pitch to short for a 6-4-3 DP. Gregory walked to no avail. Dovydas Neverauskas climbed the slope for the ninth and spun a clean frame. Brad Hand barred the gate.

Fraze was aboard twice tonight (photo Pittsburgh Pirates)

Another team loss; too many homers surrendered, too little clutch hitting, even a couple of easily second-guessed coaching moves. The Pirates are continuing their recent recipe for disaster; pile up runs in one game and forget what end of the bat is up for the next two. It's been lather, rinse, repeat for the past two weeks.

Notes:

• J-Bell had two hits, Fraze a walk & a knock and Cutch drew two free passes.
• The Pirates expect S-Rod to be in uniform Sunday and George Kontos on Monday. George left the Bay fans a fond farewell note, telling them he'd forever bleed Orange & Black. Guess after six seasons he's leaving his heart in San Francisco...
• By the by, if you think the Pirates are giving up more homers this year, it ain't so. Going into tonight, the staff averaged 1.12 HR per game; last year they averaged *spooky* 1.12 HR per game.
• One stat that does need addressed - the Pirates are 28th in slugging % at .393 and #28 in ISO at .145 in MLB. They badly need some quick strike capability; their station-to-station offense isn't very sustainable.
• Dinelson Lamet's single in the sixth was his first MLB hit.
• There were 31,817 tickets sold; the rain kept the warm fannies in the park to a considerably lesser number.
• Ol' Bucco Matt Joyce was suspended for a couple of games by Oakland for using gay slurs against a fan who was heckling him.