Arch Puts Bucs In Deep Hole; Last Minute Rally Falls Short As Mets Sweep the Series 8-7

K-Man walked on five pitches to open against Jason Vargas, and none, even the lone called strike, were near the dish. The next three Bucs couldn't get a ball past a ball the infield; Vargas is getting help from some free swinging. Arch hit the leadoff batter in the ankle with an 0-2 slider, and two pitches later, Michael Conforto swatted a belt-high heater out of the yard. So it starts already... That was followed by back-to-back walks, a wild pitch, three straight singles and a bunt back to Arch, who tried to get the lead runner and didn't to load the bases. A sac fly made it 6-0 before the 48-pitch Chiller Theater came to an end after 11 batters. It was two pop ups and a K in the second for Pittsburgh while the Mets were held to a hit. Jake dug out a two-strike hook and went deep to open the third, then Archie walked. Next came three fly balls to end the short outburst. NY got a walk and swipe but no added damage was done. Fraze singled and scored in the fourth when Jake's two-out rap into right was airmailed back into the infield. An Archie knock left Bucs on the corners, where they remained. The Bucco righty surrendered a walk after he transitioned back to the hill.

Starling's broken out of the gate since the ASG - 2019 Donruss Diamond Kings

The Bucs kept chipping in the fifth. Bryan Reynolds walked, Starling bounced into a force, stole second, and came around on Melky's two-out double. Arch had a final zero left in him, overcoming yet another dropped pop up, this one by usually sure-handed Joey O. Big Joe, pinch hitting for Arch, reached on the ol' strikeout/wild pitch ploy with two gone. That brought on Seth Lugo, who closed out the sixth. Frankie climbed the mound. A double, infield single, Marte drop of a fly, productive bouncer, and it was 8-3 just like that. The Pirates went 1-2-3 in the seventh. Michael Feliz took the ball and held the Metropolitans to a two-out, two-strike single. Justin Wilson drew the straw for the eighth and gave up a walk. Keone Kela was called in and did him one better, with a bopped batter to go along with a free pass. Tyler Bashlor was assigned the close. He walked Redbeard and an out later Bryan Reynolds took him downtown. Starling singled and Edwin Diaz toed the slab; Joey O took him deep, and at 8-7 it became interesting. A pop up and grounder later, it became the eighth straight loss.

The team's a broken record with too many skips and scratches to get to the end. Clint will praise Archie for hanging tough, but no matter how you cut it, his outing was just another bad start. Pitching and hitting are out of sync. The fielding was subpar again, with three errors and a couple of misguided throws. Oh well, let's see what happens Wednesday.

Notes:

• Bryan Reynolds and Starling Marte each had a pair of knocks.
• Starling's ninth inning single was career hit #1,000. In the last 15 games, he's hit .295 with 13 runs scored and 15 RBI.
• Four of the Pirates eight losses in this current streak have been by one run; they've lost their last six one-run decisions.
• Pirates Prospects reported that SS Oneil Cruz was promoted to Altoona.