Matz's Maddux & Two Met Homers Combine To Hand Bucs Seventh Straight Loss,3-0

The Bucs went down quietly to Steven Matz; Starling beefed about a called third strike (borderline tight), which led to Clint getting ejected for adding his two cents worth from the dugout. It was 1-2-3 from Trevor Williams, too. J-Bell reached on a boot; Bryan Reynolds grounded into a DP (hope that doesn't become a series theme) and the Bucs second frame ended quickly thereafter. The Mets made no noise either. It was a 1-2-3 third for the Buccos; Willy struck out the side. Melky doubled with an out for the Bucs first hit; that's one more than the Metropolitans have after four. It was more of the same for the Pirates in the fifth; the Mets banged a two-out double for their opening knock, and an intentional walk and whiff of Matz shut that threat down. In the sixth, a leadoff double and one-out single (Willy K'ed trying to bunt) left Pirates at first and third before, yep, another DP, this one by Melky. Michael Conforto homered, and the game seems to be following along yesterday's template so far.

Willy didn't have much help tonight - photo Pittsburgh Pirates

Reynolds singled with two gone in the seventh and a passed ball moved him up 90', but no further as Joey O popped up. A one-out bloop single off JHK's glove (it was a basically a pop up; Kang later said he though K-Man was taking it) and JD Davis homer, both on first pitch fastballs, made it 3-0. The Pirates grounded out three times in the eighth, and Kyle Crick took over. He tossed a clean frame. The Bucs got a leadoff rap by K-Man, then went quietly into the night. Matz finished with 99 pitches, and so he did earn a Maddux.

Willy did his job tonight. The Pirates have only given up 10 hits in the two games against the Mets (the Bucs have 13, not exactly write-home numbers either) but six of those NY hits have left the yard. Maybe the Pirates should, ya know, try to worry a little less about BA and K's and a little more about launch angle and pull. It's hard to keep grinding for runs when the other guys are scoring with a wave of the wand. The final carp - geez, catch a pop up, guys; tonight was like the third one dropped this week.

Notes:

• Kevin Newman had two hits; the team had five.
• At least the misery wasn't prolonged - the game only took 2:10.
• Steven Brault threw a four-inning sim game today, three weeks after suffering a shoulder strain and ending up on the IL. He's getting close but still a couple (or more) starts from coming back.
• Going into tonight's game, the Pirates led the NL in BA (.268). But they're 10th in runs scored (479) and 14th in HR (106).  Not hard to connect the dots...
• It wasn't just Pittsburgh; the Card's Goldy now has a six-game HR streak going on.