Bullpen Blasted Again As Pirates Drop Finale 10-4

Adam Wainwright gave up just a two-out Cutch leg single in the first. Ryan Vogelsong walked the leadoff guy, Matt Carpenter and Yadier Molina singled an out later. Vogey worked out of it without much problem. The Pirates went quietly in the second, ditto for St Louis. All the Bucco action in the third consisted of a JJ walk. The Cards got a two-out walk and made something of it by backing the free pass with a pair of knocks, one of which Cutch should have gloved but didn't to make it 1-0.

Vogey finished the season with a solid outing (photo Pittsburgh Pirates)

The Bucs stranded another walk in the fourth; takes a lot of those to score w/o any hits. A one-out single and two-out boot by JHK put Redbirds at second and third. Vogey's third walk loaded 'em before he escaped. In the fifth, the Bucs shot themselves in the foot; Eric Fryer singled and then was doubled up in a strike 'em out, throw 'em out DP. The Pirates followed with two knocks and a walk, and Cutch came through with a two-run knock, so at least the Pirates got the lead but passed on a chance for a knockout inning. The Cards went quietly.

Matt Joyce opened the sixth with a rap and tagged to second on Alen Hanson's fly. It was close enough to challenge, but he remained safe after review. Didn't help; a pair of whiffs left him aboard. The Redbirds cashed in off Antonio Bastardo after a walk, a two out single and a fat 3-0 fastball that was launched into the seats by Carpenter. It was the first 3-0 pitch he hadn't taken all season; guess he was waiting for the right moment. Jared Hughes got the last out.

JJ went long and was on base four times (photo Joe Guzzy/Pgh Pirates)

Jonathan Broxton took over in the seventh, and the Pirates had an answer. Fraze singled and JJ went yard, and it's 4-4. Juan Nicasio toed the slab and gave up a ...ground rule triple? Molina looked like he bounced one into the stands that popped back out; it was even picked up by a ball boy. Confusion reigned as Yadi circled the bases; the umps gave him a triple. Clint challenged and it was as it should have been, a ground rule double. After all the ado, he was blooped home by the next batter; the next Redbird served a soft shot that found grass, too. Wade LeBlanc came in and gave up a hit, then another JHK error made it 6-4, then a double made it 8-4, a grounder 9-4, a sac fly 10-4...well, you get the picture. The pen answered the bell and the Cards rang up nine runs in two frames.

Both sides left a guy on in the eighth. The Cards did a nice, letting Matt Holliday go finish his Card career in left in the ninth; his teammates let him take the field alone and the faithful gave him a last hurrah, as did both benches. The Pirates did nada, and St. Louis swept. They'll join us as playoff spectators - the Giants won too, brooming the Dodgers, so the Cards were eliminated from the playoffs.

Eric Fryer banged a pair of hits (photo Greg Fiume/Getty)

It's done, and prob about time. The baseball was pretty ugly, the umps were brutal and the games took forever; guess that's how a losing season goes. The Pirates finished 11-22 down the stretch (78-83 on the year) and leave the FO with plenty to do during the off season.

• JJ reached four times with a pair of knocks and pair of walks. Cutch and Eric Fryer had two raps and Matt Joyce a hit and walk.
• We're still not sure why Starling Marte was DL'ed. Neal Huntington said it was a paper move that was "useful" in some ways, but wouldn't say what those ways would be.
• J-Bell will be considered a rookie next season (130 < at-bats) if he doesn't bat twice. It doesn't affect service time at all, but leaves him in the mix for the All-Rookie team, RoY consideration, etc.. The GM said that wasn't the reason he didn't start, though we'd be hard-pressed to think of another reason.
• With his 150th outing this year, Andrew has started 150+ games at center in six of the last seven seasons.

Sunday: Ryan Vogelsong v Adam Wainwright, Lineup, Notes

Today: The end of the Bucco season begins at 3:15 and will be on Root Sports and 93.7 The Fan. St Louis may join the Pirates in bidding 2016 adieu; they're starting the day a game behind the Giants for the last wildcard spot. The Mets have clinched home field.

Pitchers: Ryan Vogelsong (3-7, 5.00) will close the season against Adam Wainwright (12-9, 4.57). We know Vogey's story: since August 31st, he's gotten six starts, gone 0-4 and given up 28 runs (26 earned) in 26-2/3 IP. Waino has been marginally better - he's 4-1 this month, but with a 5.46 ERA. He's been workmanlike against the Bucs this year, going 2-1, 4.01. These two warhorses have seen better campaigns and both would like to end the year at a gallop rather than a trot.

Vogey gets the final start - will it be his last as a Pirate? (image Root Sports) 

Lineup: John Jaso 1B, Gregory Polanco RF, Cutch CF, Jung Ho Kang 3B, Matt Joyce LF, Alen Hanson 2B, Eric Fryer C, Pedro Florimon SS, Vogelsong P. We sorta expect some mass subbing later in the game, but who knows what lurks in Clint's mind?

• The beat guys report that Pirates put Starling Marte on the 15-day DL for this series. We're not sure what purpose there would be for that.
• Redbird playoff scenario: The Cardinals have to beat Pittsburgh and the Giants have to lose to the visiting Dodgers. That would force a tiebreaker Monday at Busch Stadium, the winner of which would go on to meet the Mets at Shea for the wildcard game. The games both start at the same time, so they'll be lots of strained eyeballs from a day of feverish scoreboard watching by the G-Men, Cards and their fans.

Read more here: http://www.bnd.com/sports/mlb/st-louis-cardinals/article105444991.html#storylink=cpy

Card Bullpen Ices Bucco Bats: St Louis Rallies To Stay Alive 4-3

Michael Wacha gave up a lead off knock to Fraze and walked S-Rod an out later. With two gone, JHK popped a change that caught too much plate into the seats to give the Bucs a quick 3-0 lead. With an out, a double (reviewed but short of a HR) and infield single put Redbirds on the corners. Chad Kuhl reared back and posted a pair of whiffs to calm the waters. The Cards swapped out Wacha for Miguel Socolovich in the second and he tucked away the bottom of the order. Cool Chad left two Cardinals stranded.

Chad looked pretty sharp in his final start (photo Pittsburgh Pirates)

Trevor Rosenthal worked the third, matched up against the top of the order and set them down. Chad tossed a clean frame, too. The Pirates managed a walk in the fourth, ditto for the Cards. Jacob Stallings opened the fifth with a single off a mitt. Kuhl isn't much of a sac guy; he bunted one foul off his helmet visor before dropping one that forced the lead runner. J-Bell added a soft rap, but it was the Bucs turn to leave ducks on the pond. The Redbirds put runners at first and second with two outs and again Chad had the answer.

Matt Bowman took the ball in the sixth and tossed a quiet frame; the Bucco attack, except for one big fly, has been AWOL at Busch. A pop-up single that JJ couldn't haul in and a double by Moss put Kuhl in a pickle and Antonio Bastardo got the wave. A whiff, walk and wild pitch made it 3-1 and Matt Holliday's off-the-handle bloop made it 3-2. Juan Nicasio took the ball, and a sac fly tied it up.

JHK gave the Bucs a quick lead with HR #21 (photo Pittsburgh Pirates)

The Pirate offense still refuses to contribute as Jonathan Broxton struck out the side in the seventh. Nicasio pitched a painless inning and Kevin Siegrist came on for the eighth. Matt Joyce singled with two gone, was wild-pitched to second and left aboard. Felipe Rivero took his turn and got two quick outs. He had Jedd Gyorko struck out but the ump missed the call; three pitches later, he took a 100 MPH heater and tucked it into the seats.

Seung Hwan Ho was called on to close the deal. With two gone, Alen Hanson and Jacob Stallings singled. The Bucco catcher stole a sack to put runners at second and third, but P-Flo left 'em there. Et tu, Pedro.

Jacob Stallings had two knocks (image MLB.com)

Well, another nice starting pitching performance, so there's that. Another game lost by the bullpen, so there's that, too. Anyway, one last shot at a spoiler W tomorrow, and then it's wait til next year.

• The only Buc to reach base twice today was Jacob Stalling.
• Ripley stuff: Matt Holliday did not have a pinch-hit RBI over his 1,770 game career; now he's chased home PH runs in his last two games.
• Go-go Buccos: The Pirates have stolen 110 bases, the most since 1999. Starling leads the larceny squad with 47 swipes, and that's with missing a month.

Saturday: Chad Kuhl v Michael Wacha, Lineup, Notes

Today: The game will start at 1:05 and will be aired on FOX (WPGH in Pittsburgh) and broadcast by 93.7 The Fan.

Pitchers: Chad Kuhl (5-4, 4.25) matches up with Michael Wacha (7-7, 4.93). After nine solid starts, Cool Chad had his cage rattled by the Cubs in his last outing, so we'll see if he has some bounce-back in him. Wacha hasn't started in two months, missing time with shoulder inflammation. He hasn't fared very well in three relief outings since his return and will be on the shortest of leashes today.

Chad looks to end the year on a high note (photo Pittsburgh Pirates)

Lineup: Adam Frazier LF, Josh Bell RF, S-Rod SS, Gregory Polanco CF, Jung Ho Kang 3B, John Jaso 1B, Alen Hanson 2B, Jacob Stallings C, Kuhl P. Cutch gets the day off, so that gives another Pirates pup a chance to play as it should be at this point of the season.

• Steve Adams of MLB Trade Rumors ranks Sean Rodriguez among the five hitters who have boosted their free agent value the most this year.
• All three NL wildcard contenders won last night, so the Mets remain two games and the Giants one ahead of St. Louis.

Bucs Busch-Whacked 7-0

The tarp came up an hour or so before game time, yay. Gregory singled with an out off Carlos Martinez and stole second to provide all the Buc action. Tyler Glasnow walked the first Redbird, then coaxed a couple of grounders, including a 6-4-3 DP to close the frame. JJ and S-Rod opened the second with knocks, but a diving stop/force out by Jedd Gyorko and whiffs of the 8-9 batters cooled the Pirates heels. It was a clean frame for Tyler. The Bucs went 1-2-3 in the third. Gyorko is on a roll; he caught a 2-0 fastball down the middle and turned it into a souvenir. After two whiffs, Matt Carpenter drew his second walk but caused no trouble.

Tyler tossed a promising outing tonight (photo Aledmys Diaz/MLB.com)

Pittsburgh were quiet in the fourth. Yadi got plunked, but another 6-4-3 DP cleaned the sacks. A two-out walk and wild pitch went by the wayside for the Redbirds. Not a peep from the Pirates in the fifth while the Cards got a leadoff walk and nada more. The Bucs got Gregory and Cutch aboard with an out in the sixth, but Martinez was equal to the task. Trevor Williams took the ball, and a John Jaso boot opened the gates; the next pair of Cards doubled to make it 3-0. An out later, Brandon Moss homered. Jared Hughes took over and whiffed his way out of the inning.

Alen Hanson singled and stole second in the seventh, but it led to naught. Zach Phillips took the ball and gave up a long fly to Matt Holliday, who got ovations before and after the swat, reacting to the Cards announcement that they weren't bringing the fan favorite back for 2017. So good moment for him and well deserved, even if he is a Bucco assassin. Then the Cards collected a double and single before Zachster got a GIDP. That was followed by an S-Rod error before out #3 was registered with the tally 7-0 St. Louis.

El Coffee had a hit, walk and stolen sack (photo via MLB.com)

Jonathan Broxton mowed down Pittsburgh in the eighth. Drew Hutchison came on and so did the rain; can't seem to shake those drops lately. Hutch took a little snooze and toed the slab one more time about 45 minutes later after the rain devolved into a drizzle. He walked the leadoff hitter, then settled down and took care of business. Miguel Socolovich used 12 pitches to send everyone back under cover for the night.

Well, so much for playing the spoiler, at least tonight. But it was a big step forward for Tyler Glasnow, who worked five frames and gave up a run on one hit with four K, four walks, a bopped batter and wild pitch. He wasn't getting much help with the calls, though - welcome into a playoff team's home park, rookie. And guys like J-Bell and Alen Hanson got to face another top MLB pitcher at work; Martinez had his monster change going for him tonight. So the learning curve continues...

Two days left of ball playing, then it's hot stove time. We're gonna miss the Buctober interlude.

• The Bucs only had six base runners (five hits & a walk) and still managed to go 0-for-9 w/RISP.
• The Pirates are guaranteed a losing record for the season with this defeat, which leaves them at 78-81 with a pair of contests left.
• The Pittsburgh chapter of the BWAA voted its Roberto Clemente (MVP) award to Starling Marte and the Steve Blass (best pitcher) award to Jameson Taillon, which is quite a feather in his rookie cap.
• Ryan Vogelsong, who will get the last start of the season, told the press gang that he had no plans to retire after the campaign and intends to pitch again in 2017.

Friday: Tyler Glasnow v Carlos Martinez, Lineup, Preview, Notes

Tonight: The game starts at 8:15 and will be Root Sports and 93.7 The Fan.

Pitchers: Tyler Glasnow (0-1, 4.91) vs. Carlos Martinez (15-9, 3.15). Tyler is making his fourth start, and the first three have been less than memorable. He's seen the Redbirds once, going 5-1/3 IP and giving up four runs in his July MLB debut. Martinez has been strong against the Bucs with a 2.41 ERA in three starts, but has lost twice. He hasn't been quite as sharp down the stretch (3-2, 3.60 ERA in September) and has a reverse split at home (6-7, 3.81 at Busch, 9-2, 2.45 away).

Tyler Glasnow aims to derail the Cardinals (photo Pittsburgh Pirates)

Lineup: Josh Bell RF, Gregory Polanco RF, Cutch CF, Jung Ho Kang 3B, John Jaso 1B, S-Rod SS, Alen Hanson 2B, Eric Fryer C, Glasnow P. The Bucs got a good look at Fraze; guess it's Hanson's turn now.

Preview: Unlike the Cubs, St Louis hasn't used Pittsburgh as a punching bag. The Redbirds are 7-9 v the Pirates and 2-5 at Busch Stadium (35-43 overall at home). But the Cards are playing for something - they're one game behind the Giants for the last wild card and two behind the Mets for the top seed. With no pressure on the Buccos, it should make for an interesting weekend at Mound City. It's been awhile since the Pirates could play spoilers and offers a good playoff atmosphere for the youngsters to finish up the season.

• Starling Marte (back) for sure and maybe Jordy (forearm) will sit the series out, per Clint. 
• Pirates PR took a hit when it announced over the PA that last night's tickets could be exchanged for ones next season only to run afoul of a MLB rule that specifies the opposite if a game is played, even to a tie (in fact, no official MLB game has ever issued rain checks). Not a big deal, but the FO could wipe a little egg off their face because of that ooopsie promise by coming up with some other token of appreciation, especially as most of last night's fans were season ticket holders, a team's backbone. Maybe as a goodwill gesture they could send the ticketholders a Frankie bobblehead; they have a bundle of those stored somewhere.
• The Cards got a break when the Reds failed to challenge St Louis' game-winning double last night. Yadier Molina's two-out two-bagger scored a man from first, but had actually bounced off the back wall and kicked back, making it a ground-rule double that should have froze the runner at third. Reds' skipper Bryan Price didn't appeal until the umps were leaving the field and the crew wouldn't accept his beef in the runway, citing timeliness. More St Louis pixie dust, for sure, but given the situation, Price's bad for being asleep at the wheel. 

Bucs Tie Cubs 1-1 In the Rain, Head to Birdland

Ivan Nova spun a 1-2-3 opening frame against the Cubby B-Teamers. Rob Zastryzni faced a mix-n-match Buccp lineup and was unmarked other than losing Cutch on a 3-2 pitch. In the second, a pair of infield singles sandwiched around a bunt put Cubs at the corners and a sac fly made it 1-0. A two-out double raised an alarm that was silenced by a whiff of Zastryzni. The Pirates again went down w/o a peep. As a reliever who's been tough, we'd expect the Z-Man to be solid the first time around the order.

Ivan's last start was a good one albeit against the B-Team (photo Pgh Pirates)

The Cubs went quietly in the third. The Bucs got a single, booted bunt and walk to juice the sacks with nobody out. J-Bell hit a sac fly to tie it; Cutch hit into a 6-4-3 DP to finish it. That wasn't bad enough; it started to rain though the troops soldiered through it. Nova allowed a single in the fourth, ditto for the Z-Man, who was relieved with two away by Travis Wood. The rain picked up in the fifth but didn't bother Nova or Wood. The ground crew spread the Diamond-Brite around, but after an out in the sixth, the umps chased everyone into the locker room and waved in the tarps.

Took awhile, but the match was called. It's a suspended game that will become a tie in the books, so the stats will count. (It doesn't have to be made up because it has no effect on playoffs.) One thing it does is make it impossible to have a .500 year now. At 78-80, they have to sweep the upcoming Cards three-gamer to have a winning season; a loss guarantees them a losing slate for 2016. And it does kick off Ivan Nova's FA season with a bang.

• The Bucs last tie was August 24th, 1998, v the Cards at TRS; it finished 5-5. The game tonight lasted 1:15; the delay before calling it lasted 1:23.
• The Pirates finished 4-14-1 against Chicago. They finished the campaign 38-42-1 at PNC Park.
• Pittsburgh is 20-9-1 v LH starters, winning 10 of the last 11 with tonight's draw against southpaws.
• AJ Schugel's second opinion confirmed his initial diagnosis of rotor cuff inflammation, with rest & rehab as the cure. The overall late season injury report was compiled by the Trib's Bob Cohn. 

Thursday: Ivan Nova v Rob Zastryzny, Linep, Notes For the Home Finale

Tonight: The Bucs last home game will begin at 7:05 and be on Root Sports and 93.7 The Fan if a gloomy night doesn't sabotage the contest with rain.

Pitchers: Ivan Nova (12-8, 4.37; Pittsburgh 5-2, 3.49) faces Rob Zastryzny (1-0, 1.46). Ivan's been on a so-so streak, sizzling roll, and now a two-game stretch of labored starts, so what we get tonight is anyone's guess as he makes his last appearance before presumably diving into the FA pool. The Z-Man has worked 12-1/3 strong MLB innings from the pen and the rookie will be rewarded with his first big league start tonight. Though he started in AA-AAA (10-5, 4.31) this year, his longest stint in the show has been 3-2/3 IP and he hasn't thrown more than 49 pitches, so he'll probably be on a fairly short leash for the Cubbies. Joe Maddon already has plans to make this a bullpen game as he rests his guys some before the playoff gauntlet.

Will Ivan be making his last Bucco start? (photo Pittsburgh Pirates)

Lineup: Jordy SS, Josh Bell RF, Cutch CF, Jung Ho Kang 3B, S-Rod LF, David Freese 1B, Alen Hanson 2B, Eric Fryer C, Nova P. Hanson is getting a look at 2B; Fraze can drill a baseball, but catching one has proven a bit more problematic. Gregory is still out with a stiff neck, which we presume is a hangover from his previous face plant. Fran and Starling are prob down for the season, but it is nice to see Jordy back. And po' Jaso - he hits for the cycle and then the Cubs come back with a LHP. The home finale will offer an opp to see both teams benches on display tonight.

• There was a little glove controversy last night thx to an unorthodox bunt defense by the Cubbies, as explained by MLB.com.
• Combos you don't think of: John Jaso became the second player in major league history to catch a perfect game and hit for the cycle, joining Ray Schalk who puled of the feat in 1922 (he did it in the same season). JJ caught Felix Hernandez’s perfecto in 2012. Jaso also became the first major leaguer to hit for the cycle/catch a no-hitter since Jason Kendall, who caught the Francisco Cordova/Ricardo Rincon 10-inning no-hitter in 1997, and hit for the cycle, also for the Buccos, in 2000, per The Sporting News.
• Jeff Sullivan of Fangraphs takes a look at Frankie's resurgence with Toronto.
• With the Royals' elimination from the AL Wild Card race yesterday, MLB's record for consecutive years without a repeat champion will reach 16.

Jamo One-Hitter, JJ Cycle Lead Bucs To 8-4 Win Over Jake & the Cubs

Wouldn't be a Cub game w/o Anthony Rizzo going long; he took an up-and-in heater and dropped it barely into the RF seats after fouling off four pitches. It looked like a fan may have helped it over, but a review said no, and Jameson Taillon and the Bucs were down 1-0. Fraze and J-Bell started off with back-to-back knocks off Jake Arrieta. A short wild pitch moved Fraze up just before Andrew served the house specialty, a GIDP, tho it did bring in a run. The second featured a couple of walks by Jamo, a rarity, but it only bit him by turning the order over. JJ dropped a lob into left and stayed rooted at first.

JT had his game face on tonight (photo Pittsburgh Pirates)

The Cubs went in order in the third as did the Pirates. A walk, DP (a safe call at first was overturned after a challenge; Jason Heyward never touched the bag) and K took care of the Chicago fourth. Matt Joyce was plunked and S-Rod singled him to third. This time, a Buc hit it in the air - JJ caught a thigh-high hook and sent it on the line over the Clemente Wall in right. The Bucs got a couple more aboard, leaving them on but took a 4-1 lead. JT tossed a clean fifth. S-Rod doubled with two gone; Chris Coghlin had to leave the game after meeting the wall while leaping for the ball. JJ followed with another two-bagger, and what the heck, Freeser banged out another. Eric Fryer couldn't quite keep up, but he did manage an RBI knock off a glove to make it 7-1 before the dance ended.

Fraze dropped a pop up in the sixth, but all it cost were a few extra tosses by Jamo. Mike Montgomery took the ball while the Cubbies swapped some guys out, and held the Pirates to a J-Bell knock. Jared Hughes replaced JT, who was at 90 pitches, in the seventh. He bopped a batter and walked another, then Freeser threw a ball away, allowing a run to score. Zach Phillips climbed the hill, and an out, wild pitch and single brought in two more to make it 7-4. Juan Nicasio was waved in and ended the madness. Pedro Strop extracted a little revenge by drilling S-Rod; warnings were issued but the Bucs had the last laugh - JJ completed the cycle with a triple. He was stranded, but hey, why be greedy on the one day it shouldn't matter?

JJ landed in the Bucco history books with his cycle (photo Pittsburgh Pirates)

Felipe Rivero gave up a knock but no other damage in the eighth. Aroldis Chapman came in to break a sweat and hardly did, striking out the side. Tony Watson got a ninth inning call and booked it, tho he did surrender a two bagger.

Good night for a change. Jamo finishes the year 5-4, 3.38, in 18 starts and 104IP. John Jaso makes a little history. The ol' Jake curse looks like it's history. The contest only lasted three hours. And the four game losing streak came to an end. Hey - let's do it again tomorrow!

• John Jaso's cycle was the first one completed at PNC Park. It was the first by a Pirate since Daryle Ward's in 2004 at Busch Stadium. The last home Bucco cycle was by Jason Kendall in 2000 at TRS - and he was the only Pirate to hit one there. JJ chased home five runs and scored twice.
• J-Bell, S-Rod and Eric Fryer each had a pair of knocks tonight.
• From @BrinkPG - Jamo walked three batters in a start for the first time since August 22nd, 2013 against AAA Rochester.
• Clint told the press gang that he'll probably "back off" using Fran because of a left hand bruise and they'll be cautious re: Jordy's forearm tightness. He added *spoiler alert* that Neftali Feliz is likely done for the season.
• If you're keeping count, Starling Marte, Gerrit Cole, Josh Harrison, Neftali Feliz, AJ Schugel and Stew have more-or-less missed September.

Wednesday: Jameson Taillon v Jake Arrieta, Lineup, Notes

Tonight: The first pitch is at 7:05 and will be carried by Root Sports and 93.7 The Fan. Should be an interesting night, at least in the stands, as it's the Zombie game - fans are supposed to don their undead costumes, and a 1,000 Zombie Night tees will be handed out. And it's sorta fitting with the way the team's been playing lately.

Pitchers: Jameson Taillon (4-4, 3.49) and Jake Arrieta (18-7, 2.85) will duke it out. JT hasn't really gotten it back in gear yet since skipping a turn, and it would be reassuring to see him finish up the year on a high note. Jamo hasn't seen the Cubs since June, when he gave up four runs in four frames. Jameson, btw, has worked 159-2/3 IP after missing two straight seasons. His previous high was 147-1/3 frames in 2013.  After three typical shut-down starts against the Bucs to start the season, Jake has been touched up for 12 runs in 12-1/3 IP in his last two outings against the Corsairs, but is still 9-2, 2.44 in 14 career starts against the Pirates.

JT looking to close out strong (photo Pittsburgh Pirates)

Lineup: Adam Frazier 2B, Josh Bell RF, Cutch CF, Matt Joyce LF, S-Rod SS, John Jaso 1B, David Freese 3B, Eric Fryer C, Jameson Taillon. Doesn't look like a kid's day line, but more like a nod to the bench guys. It's tough sledding against Jake under the best of circumstances, but w/o Gregory, Starling, JHK, Jordy or Fran in the lineup?

• Have mercy -  Chicago is 14-3 against the Pirates, outscoring the Bucs 109-64 in 2016. 
• Five games to go; everyone's start from today on will be their last of the campaign.
• The Giants won last night, so Pittsburgh is mathematically eliminated from the post season for the first time since 2012.
• Per Forbes Magazine, the Pirates TV ratings are #5 percentage-wise in MLB, but dropped 21% from last year. The raw viewing audience is just outside baseball's Top Ten. Indy had a good year, too - per @RyanSheets_ the club topped minor league teams in total attendance (636,888). The Tribe also led in total website visits with 2,912,975 and was second in unique hits with 666,568.
• The Pirates and Blue Jays will play two spring games at Olympic Stadium in Montreal on March 31st and April 1st just before the Bucs start the season April 3rd against the Red Sox at Fenway Park. The Big O games should draw rowdy crowds to end camp on a high note (La Belle Ville fans always show up, and the Pirates-Expos were a thing back in the day), and it's tough to beat a campaign-opening series in Boston, a franchise that the Pirates first played back in 1887 as the Alleghenys.

Too Little Too Late - Bucs Go Down 6-4

A walk, stolen base and knock didn't hurt Ryan Vogelsong in the first; a pair of whiffs helped him to put up a goose egg. Gregory reached via a boot and stole second, but he was all the action v John Lackey. In the second, a HBP was followed by a wild pitch and a walk. Another free pass loaded 'em with two outs. Vogey fell behind Chris Coghlin 2-0, fed him a slider pretty much down the middle, and that cost a three-spot after a triple that was just shy of a grand salami. The Bucs opened with back-to-back singles; Fran rolled over on a pitch that was almost in the dirt for a DP, but at least he made it 3-1. Jordy singled to turn the order over.

S-Rod had two hits but came up short in the 8th & 9th (photo Pgh Pirates)

Another V-Song walk in the third was harmless, and the Pirates went quietly. In the fourth, a bloop, bunt and double padded the Cub lead; one more free pass was issued but stranded. A Matt Joyce walk, S-Rod knock and Fran walk juiced 'em with an out. Jordy lined a shot to second; it was gloved and S-Rod was doubled off. V-Song tossed a clean fifth; at 102 pitches, his day is done. Starling pinch hit and rolled out. An out later, Gregory singled and Cutch walked; Polanco took third on a short passed ball while Andrew snoozed. No diff as JHK fanned fishing for ball four, so it goes for the Pirates.

Wade LeBlanc worked a clean sixth. Lefty Travis Wood whiffed Joyce, then Trevor Cahill came in for more matchup work and got his two righties. Wade gave up a double in the seventh but left him aboard, helped by Gregory's sweet catch to end the frame. Cahill got Jordy to line out (no luck tonite), then Joe Maddon waved in LHP Mike Montgomery to face Freeser, who bounced out. M&M walked J-Bell and wild-pitched him up a station; he went no further.

Wade LeBlanc hasn't given up a run as a Bucco (photo Pittsburgh Pirates)

Antonio Bastardo gave up a one-out walk and knock in the eighth, but cleaned up by whiffing the next pair. Carl Edwards Jr fluffed the rosin bag for Chi-town, and a boot and walk got him in quick hot water. Joyce's comebacker became another DP to cool the kitchen and S-Rod's looking K turned off the barely flickering flame.

Juan Nicasio climbed the hill in the ninth. With two gone and a runner on third, an easy fly to left hit El Coffee's glove and dropped out. A run scored, and a second came in shortly afterward on another knock. Drew Hutchison came on to get the third out. Justin Grimm gave up a leadoff double to Fran and Freeser walked an out later, as did Fraze to fill the sacks. Gregory singled in a run and Cutch followed with a two-run knock to make it 6-4. That brought in Alex Pina, who got JHK to whiff on a wild pitch. The runners moved up and Joyce was intentionally put aboard, leaving it up to S-Rod. He K'ed, que sera sera.

Gregory had two knocks after missing 3 games (photo Pgh Pirates)

Ultimately, Vogey's early wildness - which isn't new; he's walked 12 and plunked a pair in his last 17-1/3 IP - and three brutal DPs did in the Bucs. Their inability to make hay at home, where they were so good in recent seasons, has been a crusher in 2016.

• Gregory and S-Rod had a pair of knocks.
• From @MattGajtka: The Pirates have had the lead at the end of just three innings so far on this homestand, including Jacob Stallings' walkoff. They've played 47 innings. Not a surprise - the Bucs are 37-42 at PNC Park this year (4 -17 in their last 21!) after going 53-28 in 2015. They're 77-80 on the year, and a Giants win tonite will officially eliminate them from the post season.
• Juan Nicasio's K streak ended at 33 straight appearances. The MLB record is 39.
• The gate was 22,454.
• MLB set a new record tonight with 107 players reaching 20+ homers YTD, breaking the mark of 103 set in 1999. The Bucs have three bombers - Cutch (24), Gregory (22) and JHK (20), with S-Rod having an outside shot with 18.
• Washington's AJ Cole was suspended for five games and fined by MLB for throwing behind JHK on Sunday. Cole will appeal.

Tuesday: Ryan Vogelsong v John Lackey, Lineup, Notes

Tonight: The game starts at 7:05 and will be on Root Sports and 93.7 The Fan. It will be the last "Pups in the Park" night, so if Spot has a baseball jones, this is poochie's final chance to woof, woof, woof for the home team this year.

Pitchers: Ryan Vogelsong (3-6, 4.85) v John Lackey (10-8, 3.39). After a rough string of starts, Vogey rebounded with a workmanlike outing against Milwaukee. He's started once against the Cubbies this year and gotten lathered, as has everyone the Pirates have sent to the hill. V-Song hasn't quite figured out the Cubs, as he's 5-8, 5.82 in 21 career appearances (13 starts). It is a bit curious that the Bucs are using a 39 year-old in the last week of the season, especially one who hasn’t made it past the fifth inning in his last four starts (0-2, 9.18), but Hutch, Tyler, Steven and Trevor haven't exactly forced management's hand for a spot start or two, either. Lackey is rounding back in shape since coming off the DL (strained shoulder) and has been solid (1-1, 3.24) since returning. He's faced the Bucs just once this year, and the Pirates rang up a five-spot in seven innings on him. Overall, he's 1-2, 3.69 in six career starts against Pittsburgh.

Vogey gets the call against the Cubs (photo Joe Guzzy/Pirates)

Lineup: John Jaso 1B, Gregory Polanco LF, Cutch CF, Jung Ho Kang 3B, Matt Joyce RF, S-Rod 2B, Fran Cervelli C, Jordy SS, Vogey P. Nice to see Gregory back; hopefully th time off will allow him to recharge for the final week. Starling is out; shame on the Bucs if they play him again this season instead of letting his back heal; we'd love to know what exactly his injury is.

• The Pirates have lost 4-of-5; the resurgent Cubs have won 6-of-7.
• @adamberry noted that Jung Ho Kang became the first Asian-born infielder to hit 20 home runs in a MLB season this weekend, although OF's Shin-Soo Choo and Hideki Matsui have done it multiple times.

Cubs Maul Buccos 12-2

It wasn't a dark and stormy night, but it sure was a dreary evening when Chad Kuhl served the first pitch. He walked the first guy after being up 0-2 *sigh* An out later, Anthony Rizzo doubled to put Cubbies at second and third (Rizzo came into the game with a .450 BA and 1.488 OPS against the Bucs) and another walk loaded the sacks. A sac fly brought in a run and moved both runners up, but Chad then shut the gate. J-Bell singled off Kyle Hendricks for the only Bucco action. The Cubs went down 1-2-3 in the second; they've also worked Cool Chad for 49 pitches. Kyle stymied the Bucs.

Matt Joyce went yard (photo Pittsburgh Pirates)

Kuhl buzzed Rizzo with two gone in the third; the Cub bench growled and Anthony, well, he just drilled another hit. A wild pitch moved him to second but a K ended the music. Chad singled with an out and JJ doubled him to third, but the Bucs couldn't cash them in with a comebacker and fly. Jason Heyward opened the fourth with a single - he hits .229 against the league and .370 v the Pirates. That was followed by a wild pitch, HBP and bunt single, cleaned up by a Javy Baez grand salami that barely made it into the seats on an 0-2 sinker. Hendricks singled; prob time to get the bullpen ready. Two more knocks juiced the sacks again; that's seven batters in a row who have reached safely. Zach Phillips took the ball and, go figure, struck out Rizzo. Then he coaxed a 6-4-3 DP; great job by the Zachster. The Bucs only answer was an infield knock by S-Rod.

Zach gave up a rap in an otherwise quiet fifth. The Pirates went down even more quietly. Steven Brault toiled in the sixth and the cows left the barn. After an out, he gave up a knock and then a blast to Kris Bryant on a 3-2 heater. Next he issued a bad-luck, full count walk on a pitch that looked a lot like strike three to everyone but the ump, followed by another single. A DP to JHK turned into another run when Jordy whiffed on Kang's decent throw. The Bucs did do something right, cutting down a run at the plate, but another came in on a bloop two-bagger to right on an 0-2 pitch. Two more touched on single before the bell rang. The Bucs put together three straight knocks with two outs to load the bases, but Fraze's liner kept the board at zero.

Freeser broke out of a homer slump in the 8th (photo Pittsburgh Pirates)

Brault came back out for the seventh, even after throwing 43 pitches last inning - guess they don't monitor his pitch count. He gave up a one-out walk and knock. A two out walk loaded them; a boot by JHK allowed another Cubbie tally to cross. After that (and 71 pitches) Phil Coke took over, getting a liner to end the parade. Pedro Strop came on, and we'll just fast forward. Subs covered the width and length of the field, Freeser and Matt Joyce hit back-to-back 400' homers of Hector Rondon and runners from both teams were left scattered over the bases. Aroldis Chapman closed with a 10 run lead, but not to rub it in - he was scheduled to work an inning tonight.

Add your own comment; nights like this happen in September when one team is looking towards the playoffs and the other towards 2017.

• S-Rod and Jacob Stalling each had two hits. Cutch's hit streak ended at 13 games; he only got two at bats before the B-Team came in.
• The Pirates are 77-79. Their magic number (for elimination) is two; they have to finish 4-2 against the Cubs and Cards to finish at .500.
• Fran fanned in the second and entered the history books by becoming the 37,447th strikeout victim of the season in MLB, the most whiffs ever posted in an MLB season. This is the ninth consecutive year that the record for strikeouts has been set.
• The Cubs batted around in the fourth and sixth innings. 
• Chicago has won 100 games for the first time since 1935. Don't chuckle - the Bucs have only won 100+ games twice, in 1909 (110) and 1902 (103). They've won 98 three times - 2015, 1991, and 1979.
• The crowd was 20,159.

Monday: Chad Kuhl v Kyle Hendicks, Lineup, Preview, Notes

Tonight: The game starts at 7:05 as the Cubs and the Bucs collide one last time for four games. Root Sports and 93.7 The Fan will air the contest.

Pitchers: Chad Kuhl (5-3, 3.73) opens the set against Kyle Hendricks (15-8, 2.06). Chad was strong in his last outing, but hasn't had much success against the Big Blue Machine - in 7-1/3 IP, he's given up seven runs on 11 hits, with two that went yard. The good news is his second start was much better than the first, so maybe the third time's the charm. Hendricks has toyed with the Pirates in his two 2016 starts against them, giving up a run on 10 hits in 14 IP with 16K, and has gone 21 straight starts giving up three or fewer runs. The Dartmouth grad is on the Cy Young short list, so Chad needs all the cool he can muster to hang in this game.

Chad opens the set tonight (photo Joe Guzzy/Pirates)

Lineup: John Jaso 1B, Josh Bell RF, Cutch CF, Jung Ho Kang 3B, S-Rod 2B, Fran Cervelli C, Adam Frazier LF, Jordy SS, Kuhl P. Good to see Fran back; Gregory is apparently still feeling the effects of his head-on with the wall.

Preview: Step back, nothing to look at here - the Pirates have been a train wreck against Chicago, going 3-12 so far in the 2016 series. The Bucs showed a little spunk in the last set at Wrigley, so we'll see if that carries over this week. The Cubs aren't making concessions, at least until Thursday, with Hendicks, Lackey and Arrieta on the bump; we'll see how Joe Madden plays with the lineup. They're coming into town looking for their 100th win and have already clinched home field for the playoffs. The Cubs are kinda coasting now with a 7-5 record since the 13th and Pirates did take 2-of-3 the last time Chi-town visited PNC, so there's that...

• The Pirates traded for IF Chris Bostick of the Nats in exchange for High-A catcher Taylor Gushue and cash. Bostick will take Josh Harrison’s spot on the 40-man, with J-Hay sent to 60-day DL. Bostick , who was DFA'ed, won't go on the active roster; he looks like a depth guy. Gushue hasn't hit well on the farm and is reputed to be a good receiver but not noticeably strong against the running game, w/ the usual caveat of there's usually not much help from the pitchers in the lower levels in that regard. 
• •@Sawchik_Trib tweeted "Could Jung Ho Kang play some shortstop in 2017? Hurdle hinted at it today." That could be a hint at S-Rod heading for greener pastures in the off season as there are no true SS's save P-Flo & Gift Ngoepe in the upper levels. It was also allow them to carry Freeser and JJ, who are limited to the corners.

Felipe Fileted; Bucs Drop Rubber Match 10-7

Not a grand start for Tyler Glasnow. A single, stolen base, walk and double steal set up two quick runs (Glasnow is slow to the plate and Eric  Fryer, well...). With two gone, Josh Bell and P-Flo played "you take it, no - you" with a pop to right; it ended up neither grabbed it, tho J-Bell came close enough to merit an error, and a third run came across thanks to the bedlam. AJ Cole walked the first three Buccos and JHK singled home a run (on a 3-2 pitch). S-Rod's deep sac fly scored one more and moved Cutch to third. Jordy popped out foul behind the plate, and a little more comedy ensued - Jung Ho broke for second, drawing a lob throw, and that allowed Andrew to tag and plate. So it's 3-3; settle back, may be a long afternoon - not often do you see six runs score on three hits.

The second opened with a Nat knock, followed by a 2-6 bunt DP (Fryer tagged the batter and then threw out the runner.) That was followed by another single and Glasnow's third K. The Pirates went down in order.

JHK had another big day (photo Dave Arrigo/Pirates)

The third inning opened with leadoff triple by Bryce Harper, who was shook up on a clumsy slide after a bluff tag by JHK, but stayed in until the inning ended. That brought Dusty out to beef at the umps and snarl at the Buc bench. Besides riling Baer, it also confirmed that Bell's future is not in RF. An infield knock scored Harper, and another rap followed. A couple of fan jobs and a fly kept the damage limited. After two outs, Cole threw behind JHK's noggin and was ejected. The benches cleared, with S-Rod and Fran venting for the Pirates while Jayson Werth and Harper were yappy on the Nats side. After the noise dissipated, S-Rod was tossed (the water cooler wisely made no comment) and Rafael Martin came on to whiff Kang. Amusing three innings and 90 minutes so far.

Wade LeBlanc took the hill in the fourth and struck out the side. Mat Latos got the call for DC, and a walk, single and P-Flo force tied the contest. Florimon was caught stealing, so of course Eric hit his first MLB triple, but the sting was lessened when Freeser dropped a dink into right. Matt Grace took the ball and K'ed JJ with the Bucs up 5-4 and Trevor Williams on the bump. Two outs, two walks and a double later, the game was knotted and Jared Hughes came on to get the third out. Matt Belisle was called on and left Bucs on the corners. Antonio Bastardo and Belisle worked a scoreless sixth.

Andrew continued his September spree (Image Root Sports)

Juan Nicasio got a K in a quiet seventh while Pittsburgh took command on a two-run bomb by JHK. Six outs to go and a two run lead - what could go wrong? Well, about everything. Felipe Rivero walked the first batter and then gave up a tying dinger to Werth. Three singles brought in the lead run and Phil Coke. An intentional walk loaded the sacks, and a single and unintentional walk made it 10-7 Nats. The next nine batters went down and DC added another feather to their cap.

Ugh. September baseball. Just a week left now, with four games against the Cubbies and three against the Cards. The contests will have meaning according to your individual POV, as the Cubs won't have much to play for although St Louis may be going down to the wire. The games may seem to drag on longer than your daughter's first solo date, but you'll get a great window to view the 2017 Pirates wanna-bes, especially with all the guys that are out.

Juan's K streak is at 33 games now (photo Pittsburgh Pirates)

• JHK had two hits, three RBI and a run scored. Cutch, Matt Joyce and J-Bell also reached base twice, with two hits and four walks ensemble. Andrew did extend his hitting streak to 13 games.
• The Nats and Bucs tied the record for the most players used in a nine-inning NL game with 45, one short of the MLB record. The game took 4:01 to play.
• Felipe Rivero allowed more earned runs in 1/3 IP (5) against his former teammates than he had in his first 25 innings with the Pirates (4). He had some help from Phil Coke, too.
• It was a well-timed rest day for Fran; his wrist was banged up in last night's game.
• On Neal Huntington's radio show, he noted that Trevor Williams still had an option. In the next breath he mentioned that Trevor will have a shot at earning a spot on the Pirates at camp, but it sounds like they have him penciled in already for a 2017 start at Indy. He also said that Nick Kingham could be on the same fast track next season that Jamo took this year.

Sunday: Tyler Glasnow v AJ Cole, Lineup, Notes - RIP Jose

Today: The last Kids Day starts at 1:35 and will be carried by Root Sports and 93.7 The Fan. The youngsters will get a drawstring backpack and the regular ticket holders will be eligible for oodles of giveaway goodies as part of Fan Appreciation Day.

Pitchers: Tyler Glasnow (0-1, 4.11) gets the nod against A.J. Cole (1-2, 4.68) in the rubber match. Tyler will be making his third big league start and first since July 23rd. Glasnow could be a big part of the Pirates future with an off-the-chart toolkit, but his command is a red flag. If he can get his pitch count down (290 pitches, eight walks, two plunks in 15-1/3 IP), he can be a serious add to the Cole/Taillon/Kuhl mix in 2017. He replaces Steven Brault (0-3, 4.26), who was lined up for today's start. He's been largely ineffective in a rotation role and his two-pitch repertoire may be better suited for the bullpen. Cole, 24, is also a rook (he tossed nine IP in 2015) making his eighth career MLB start and wasn't named as today's hurler until last night after the Nats clinched. He's scattered a couple of strong outings with some that weren't so strong. Today's contest will be a glimpse of the future featuring two touted young guys trying to establish themselves for 2017.

Tyler Glasnow gets the ball (photo Kim Klement/USA Today)

Lineup: John Jaso 1B, Josh Bell RF, Cutch CF, Jung Ho Kang 3B, Sean Rodriguez LF, Jordy SS, Pedro Florimon 2B, Eric Fryer C, Glasnow P. A September lineup if we've ever seen one.

• Despite yesterday's sloppy outing, the Pirates have taken 7-of-10 from the Nats at PNC Park.
• Good thing there's an expanded roster. The Pirates played yesterday without Gerrit Cole, Josh Harrison, Jordy Mercer, Starling Marte, Gregory Polanco, Neftali Feliz, AJ Schugel, Chris Stewart and Elias Diaz. Jordy returns today, El Coffee is day-to-day and a longshot remains that Starling will see action; the rest are done for the year. The injuries have given Sean Rodriguez, Adam Frazier and Juan Nicasio more prominent September roles while keeping J-Bell off 1B & in the OF.
• Miami Marlins pitcher Jose Fernandez, 24, and two others were killed early this morning in a boat crash off of Miami Beach. As Clint said upon hearing the news: "A reminder that you don't call all the shots. Be where your feet are. Enjoy the moment. There will be a day when there won't be another day."

RIP Jose (photo by Clark Spencer)

Bunts, Bungles & Boots - Bucs Fall 6-1 As Nats Clinch East Title

Ivan Nova surrendered a bunt single, infield single, pair of bona fide singles and a sac fly to go with hitting two batters, and after 23 pitches (the last one coaxing a 1-2-3 DP) it was 3-0 Nats. The Bucs got back-to-back two out knocks off Joe Ross, but JJ's liner was webbed by Ryan Zimmerman to close the chapter.

Both teams got two-out raps in the second leading to no damage. In the third, the Nats again collected a harmless two-out hit. The Bucs tried to put a big inning together. J-Bell swatted his third MLB long fly and the Pirates loaded the bases with two down to send Ross to the showers (he was at 67 pitches and a week off the DL) and bring in ol' matey Sean Burnett. Matt Joyce's bid to chase his teammates home ended when he lined out to a perfectly positioned Bryce Harper.

JHK got back into the swing of things with three hits (photo Pittsburgh Pirates)

The fourth did in Nova and the Pirates. Danny Espinosa led off with a bunt single; another bunt was tossed into RF when neither Fraze nor JJ could figure out who's on first. An out later, S-Rod's throw home took a hop that Fran couldn't handle for an error. Then a DP ball was rolled to second; Fraze's throw for the force at second was high as a run scored and everyone else was safe. A wild pitch and sac fly made it 6-1.

Reynaldo Lopez came on in the bottom of the fourth and held the Bucs scoreless on four hits into the ninth, when Dusty Baker decided to delay the Hunter Hayes concert by bringing in two new pitchers to finish up. As for the Bucs, they got two innings each out of Hutch and Zach Phillips and one from the where-ya-been Kid, Jeff Locke. Phillips looked strong, giving up a hit and whiffing a pair while Hutchison and Locke needed a little fancy stepping to put up their goose eggs.

Fran reached safely three times tonight (photo Pittsburgh Pirates)

Ivan has had consecutive poor outings. He's still a cracker jack in the upcoming FA field, but his hoped-for treasure chest may be shrinking in size, especially if he can't reestablish himself with just one start left in the season. As for the Bucs, back-to-back three error nights (Fraze has been hitting and booting at about the same rate) make piecing together their 2017 starting lineup a chore as they have to figure out what direction they want to take with a lot of puzzle pieces. Versatility sometimes comes at a cost.

• JHK had three knocks, including a pair of 2Bs, and Fran added two hits with a walk.
• Cutch extended his hitting streak to 12 games.
• With their win and the Met's loss tonight, the Nationals have won the NL East for the third time in five years.

Saturday: Ivan Nova v Joe Ross, Lineup, Notes

Tonight: The middle game starts at 7:05 and will be on Root Sports and 93.7 The Fan. After the game, Hunter Hayes will perform during a Bucco "Fan Jam."

Pitchers: Ivan Nova (12-7, 4.19; w/Pittsburgh 5-1, 2.93) butts heads with Joe Ross (7-5, 3.48). Nova is coming off a bummer start and aims to regain his Bucco mojo; he's looking for a money tree with his name on it during the off season, and a couple of more strong outings down the stretch could sprout that acorn. Not much history between Washington and Ivan, as he hasn't faced the Nats since 2012. Ross has made one start since coming off the DL with a bum wing and tossed 51 fairly effective pitches. The Nats will probably have him on a count again, with one regular season start to follow as they nurse him into playoff shape. The Pirates should load up with LH hitters; his slash is .218/.251/.345 v righties and .322/.393/.435 v lefties this year.

Ivan takes the bump (photo Pittsburgh Pirates)

Lineup: Adam Frazier 2B, Josh Bell RF, Cutch CF, Jung Ho Kang 3B, John Jaso 1B, S-Rod SS, Matt Joyce LF, Fran Cervelli C, Nova P. Starling and Gregory are out as expected; we're wondering just whassup with Jordy's arm. Another surprise, to us, is that after 11 innings behind the plate during a 4-1/2 hour game Fran didn't get a blow today.

• Juan Nicasio's string of 32 straight appearances with a whiff is MLB's longest since 2014 when Aroldis Chapman went 37 consecutive outings with a K.
• Cutch has been happening since his three-day blow at Atlanta. He was supposed to be nursing a sore wrist; maybe the time off made all the difference. That makes us wonder how many other players would benefit by standing down when banged up. Sure seems to us like the Bucs prefer to hurry guys back rather than nursemaid them a bit.
• Wayne Cavadi of Today's Knuckleball takes a look at SS Kevin Newman.
• Hmmm... In nine outings (seven starts) with Toronto, Frankie Liriano has a 3.35 ERA, 8.8 K/9, 3.1 BB/9 and 1.186 WHIP.
• Congrats to Texas manager Jeff Banister, whose Rangers won the AL West last night.

Last Man, Last Strike Is Enough: Stallings' Walk-Off Gives Bucs 6-5, 11 Inning Win Over Washington

After two outs in the first, the guy drafted ahead of Jamerson Taillon, Bryce Harper, doubled off him when JT hung a curve. To add injury to insult, Gregory Polanco had to leave the game after kissing the LF wall chasing down the hit. Fraze went to left and Alen Hanson came in to play second. Afer all the ado, Jamo got out of it with no more damage. Gio Gonzalez gave up a two-out walk to Cutch before closing out the frame.

Stephen Drew doubled with one gone in the second and Ryan Zimmerman followed with another. Danny Espinosa dropped a down-Broadway heater into the shrubbery and the Nats were up 3-0. Then Gio doubled. Oddly, Jameson struck out the side to bookend the extra-base hits. Hanson legged out an infield roller with one away and Freeser followed with a soft lob to right. J-Bell lined out, moving Hanson up, and JT helped the cause with a grounder up the middle to chase him home. Fraze followed with another knock to make it 3-2. Harper opened the third with a dying quail to left. Hanson booted the third out, so Jamo went DIY and spun a whiff to close the frame. Cutch led off with a triple and JHK's grounder tied the game.

Alen Hanson had two hits and scored twice tonight (photo Pittsburgh Pirates)

It was a 1-2-3 fourth for the Nats. Freeser walked and that was all the action. JT tossed another quiet frame in the fifth. JHK walked with two outs; a pitch later it was the sixth. Antonio Bastardo took the hill as JT was at 87 tosses after giving up six hits, a walk and whiffing seven. Wilson Ramos welcomed him with a second-pitch homer. A K was followed by a double, walk and Jared Hughes. A whiff and infield knock loaded the sacks, then a walk brought in a run and Zach Phillips. He whiffed Harper to stop the bleeding at 5-3. Hanson and Freeser singled off Koda Glover. Marc Rzepczynski took the ball, and after an out walked Jason Rogers. Fraze bopped a sac fly to make it 5-4. Blake Treinen was waved in - Dusty must be paid by the hour - and finished the frame. We're at the 2:40 mark after six innings.

Fraze had a knock and chased in a pair (photo Pittsburgh Pirates)

Phil Coke made his first Bucco appearance in the seventh and put up a zero. JHK drew a walk in a pesky, eight-pitch plate trip. S-Rod followed with a knock and old chum Ollie Perez answered the phone to face John Jaso, who was swapped out for Jordy. He was served a 3-2 meatball, but got under it and popped out. Then Shawn Kelley was called in and fanned Freeser. Felipe Rivero toed the rubber in the eighth and tossed a quick, clean frame. The Bucs hit a couple of solid balls, but they all found leather.

Juan Nicasio worked the ninth and gave up one-out, back-to-back singles. After a whiff - that's 32 straight games with a K - JHK muffed an inning-ending ball, but Juan coaxed a roller to first to negate it. It was Shark time, accompanied by a vid and a cheer from the few thousand hardy fans remaining. After an out, Cutch singled. JHK dribbled a ball, and Wilson Ramos' throw for the force at second was off, but Espinosa made a nice play to get the out, though it took review to overturn the original safe call. P-Flo ran for Kang and S-Rod shot a ball into center for a two-bagger, eventually chasing Florimon, who was caught watching the ball at the start, all the way around to tie the score; the successful challenge saved Washington a run and maybe the game. Harper made a sliding grab to end the frame; it was a sno-cone but survived a challenge.

Cutch had two hits and walked twice (photo Pittsburgh Pirates)

Tony Watson took the ball in the 10th; a leadoff infield knock was overturned on review. A fly ball was caught without a challenge, followed by a double by Wilmer Difo. 10 pitches later, Trea Turner finally whiffed. The Nats went dancin' with Melancon for another frame and he tucked the Bucs in this time around. Wade LeBlanc took the bump in the 11th to face the 2-3-4 hitters. He walked Anthony Rendon with two outs and came back with a K. Yusmiero Petit gave up a ground rule double to Fran with an out and walked Andrew intentionally, then P-Flo unintentionally. S-Rod whiffed chasing a curve that was in a different time zone. The last bench player, Jacob Stallings, grabbed a bat. He fell behind 0-2, worked the county full, and lined a slider over the third baseman's head into left for the walk-off. Baseball has some beautiful moments.

Four hours and 36 minutes, 11 innings, 17 pitchers, 403 pitches, 25 hits, 10 walks, 25 LOB...and it comes down to Mark Melancon blowing a save and Jacob Stallings with a walk-off knock. Ah, September baseball. Well, the Nats are gonna have to wait for their champagne and the Bucs, well, that last nail is ready but hasn't been driven yet.

Jacob Stallings second MLB hit was a walk-off knock (photo Pittsburgh Pirates)

• Cutch extended his hitting streak to 11 games. He, S-Rod, Alen Hanson and Freeser had two knocks each.
• Gregory is being treated for facial contusions (bruises) after his face plant.
• Bryce Harper has never homered at PNC Park, the only NL field where he hasn't gone yard.
• The rep for Ivan Nova confirmed that the Bucco FO has made "multiple" offers for a contract, but said no deal is imminent. It's a soft year for starting FA pitching, and we'd be surprised if Nova doesn't test the waters unless he gets an offer he can't refuse from the Pirates. He's not eligible for a qualifying offer since he was traded after the season started and doesn't have to worry about a lost draft pick devaluing him.
• •@hankschulman of the San Fran Chronicle tweeted that "sfgiants made comparable offer to pirates for Melancon, including big-leaguer and minor-leaguer. Bucs preferred nationals offer" w/o naming names.

Friday: Jameson Taillon v Gio Gonzalez, Lineup, Preview, Notes

Tonight: The Bucs open their last home stand of the year at 7:05 with a three-gamer against the Nats, to be followed by the Cubbies. The game will be on Root Sports and 93.7 The Fan, and fair warning: it's the last free tee day of year in case your shirt drawer looks a little bare.

Pitchers: Jameson Taillon (4-4, 3.39) kicks off the final PNC string against Gio Gonzalez (11-10, 4.48). Jamo has been money, yielding three earned runs or fewer in 11 of his last 12 starts. He looked a little rusty in his last outing after missing a turn to conserve innings, so hopefully today he'll be a bit crisper. JT has never faced Washington and will have to take on a Bucco bug-a-boo in his Nat debut. Gonzalez has made seven career starts against Pittsburgh and has never surrendered more than three runs or, for that matter, lost to the Pirates, going 4-0, 2.81. Taillon and the Bucs have their work cut out against the Washington southpaw tonight, but it looks like a grand matchup.

Jamo's on the bump tonight (photo Pittsburgh Pirates)

Lineup: Adam Frazier 2B, Fran Cervelli C, Cutch CF, Jung Ho Kang 3B, S-Rod SS, Gregory Polanco RF, David Freese 1B, Josh Bell RF, Taillon P. We knew Starling was out and now wonder if Jordy's arm is something to be concerned about. We can't quite figure out how J-Bell ended up in the eight hole (.300 BA, .364 OBP v LHP).

Preview: A couple of clashing Bucco streaks are in play tonight. Pittsburgh is 3-13 in its last 16 home games (and just 36-38 for the year at PNC) but are 10-3 in Jamo’s last 13 starts. The Nats took 2-of-3 earlier in the year, as the Bucs scored just four runs in 36 innings (the last game went 18 frames). The Nats have lost 4-of-5 while the Pirates have taken 7-of-10, so there's that going for them. Washington's magic number to take their division is two, so they're looking to clinch their grab at the brass ring during the series. And one final bit of bright news: the Bucs won't see 18-game winner Max Scherzer this weekend.

• Gregory isn't the only Bucco in the deep freeze. David Freese is 1-for-14 with eight strikeouts in his last six contests.
• Not exactly sure what's wrong with Schugs, but the Bucs put AJ (shoulder) on the 60-day DL to open a spot on the 40-man for Phil Coke.
• Mark Melancon makes his homecoming. He's got a little different role in DC, as Dusty Baker uses him in various spots late in the game, not just in closer situations as was Clint's wont. Even so, The Shark is 12-for-12 in save opps with Washington while posting a 1.99 ERA and 0.93 WHIP in 24 outings.
• Daniel Murphy has missed the last four games with an injury that Washington hasn't specified; the Bucs aren't the only team to play that game. He's day-to-day.
• Pittsburgh named Josh Bell as its Minor League Player of the Year and Mitch Keller as the MiL Pitcher of the Year.