Buc Bats MIA In 2-0 Loss To Rox

Corey D led off with a knock against Kyle Freeman; Starling then rolled into a DP and another bouncer ended it. J-Grove spun a five-pitch opener. The Bucs went 1-2-3 in the second; ditto for the Rox. Big Joe showed the hitters how to do it with a two-out double in the third, but they didn't take the hint. He was stranded him after a nice play by SS Trevor Story, his second of the inning. Colorado went down quietly. Pittsburgh drew a pair of walks in the fourth to no avail. Colorado came up empty again, with J-Hay's diving stop saving a hit and closing the frame. Nada for the Pirates in the fifth. Nolan Arenado opened with a first-pitch rap and another knock moved him to third. J-Hay muffed a potential DP and it was 1-0 with everyone safe. One pitch later, a storm hit and the tarps came out. Joe bopped the first batter after the not-very-long delay to load 'em up and a sac fly brought home another tally. The Rox added a two-out knock, but Gregory keep the deficit at two by cutting down the lead runner at home.

No support for J-Grove again (photo Pittsburgh Pirates)

The sixth was again a dud for the Bucs, as Starling's 400' shot to center ended up just a loud out. After a leadoff single, J-Grove found his groove again. Amore got plunked with an out in the seventh. Eli's liner to center hung up and found a glove instead of grass, then J-Hay worked an 11-pitch walk, but another chance went for naught. Big Joe sailed through the Rox. Seung-Hwan Oh took the ball in the eighth and sat the Buccos down in order. Edgar Santana gave up a harmless double. Wade Davis got the ninth inning call and fanned a pair to take it home.

Well, maybe the FO shouldn't have worried so much about the pitching. Two hits at Coors Field, without a runner reaching third. J-Bell's loss hurt; he was the generator at the back end of the order, especially on days when the top of the lineup isn't priming the pump, and they're slumping as a unit right now.

Notes:

• The Pirates have lost three in a row against teams they're jockeying for position against in the wild card race. No time like the present to step it up...
• J-Grove has dropped his last two games 1-0 and 2-0, and one of those runs was unearned.
• The double by Joe Musgrove was his first MLB extra-base hit, although to be fair it was only his 25th plate appearance.
• Newly acquired SS Adeiny Hechavarria, unlike the pitching gets, is a rental player, so he won't be a block for any of the young infielders in the pipeline. He looks to fill a hole on the bench for a middle infield glove guy. He's not much of a stick, but Hechy's OPS+ is 75; J-Hay's is 78, so...