The Pirates - A New Beginning indeed!

[moore4807]

Win again! The #1 experiment is working! I can't take credit for Demarcus Evans' pitching skills, but I WILL take credit for putting him in the starters role.

Pitching Report - SP Demarcus Evans (5.1 IP, 2H, 1ER, 1BB, 8K's 1HRA) was great in his Pirates debut, RP Corbin Clouse (2.2 IP, 1H, 0R, 0BB, 2K's) mowed down the Cubs lineup in the middle innings, and RP Chad Kuhl (1 IP, 2H, 1ER, 0BB, 1K, 1HRA) gave up a meaningless HR in the ninth to finish the game.

Batting Report -Seven runs on twelve hits against a good starter IS my idea of good baseball. Three players had multi-hit games today. 1B Josh Ockimey (2/4, 1R, 2RBI 1HR), LF Andrew Toles (2/4, 2B, 2R) and 2B Lourdes Gurriel Jr. (2/5, 2-2B, 1R) while the only starter, 3B KeBryan Hayes, went without a hit today.

[moore4807]

The All Star voting begins today.

Toronto 1B/DH Rowdy Tellez hits 3 HRs yesterday.

San Diego SP Jacob Nix shut out the Marlins yesterday.

[moore4807]

It was another ugly loss as Experiment #2 Peter Fairbanks doesn't fare nearly as well as DeMarcus did yesterday.

Pitching Report - SP Peter Fairbanks (4 IP, 5H, 3R, 0ER, 0BB, 3K's) escapes his ERA by newcomers Josh Ockimey and Tim Witt's errors. RP Chad Kuhl (3.1 IP, 0H, 0R, 0BB, 3K's) and RP Ryan Brasier (0.2 IP, 1H, 0R, 0BB, 0K) held the fort down quite nicely, then Fernando Romero (1 IP, 3H, 2ER, 0BB, 2K's) got torched for two runs in the ninth for the final 5-0 score.

Batting Report - ZERO runs on three hits. I STILL haven't found the clause in the contracts where players can take the night off, either pitching or hitting, and still get paid... I'll keep looking.

[moore4807]

Nice! A series win against a division rival is always good for the soul. The most pleasing part is that our leading hitter today is a pitcher... Mark that down somewhere in the trivia books.

Pitching Report - SP Jameson Taillon (7 IP, 9H, 4ER,1BB, 10K, 1HRA) had a couple of rough innings in the beginning but he settled down to toss zeroes at the Cubs for four more innings. RP Thomas Burrows (1 IP, 1H, 0R, 0BB, 0K) pitched a quick eighth inning, then CL Archie Bradley (1 IP, 0H, 0R, 0BB, 2K's) pitched another clean ninth for his eleventh save of the season.

Batting Report - Five runs on thirteen hits. How many times will I get to write this? Our multi-hit players actually include the pitcher as our leading hitter P Jameson Taillon (3/3 1RBI) hit three singles and got a RBI to boot! LF Hunter Renfroe (2/4, 2HR, 2R, 3RBI) was the big bopper today crushing two HR's and driving in three runs. 2B Lourdes Gurriel Jr. (2/4 1HR, 1R, 1RBI) also went deep. 3B KeBryan Hayes (2/4) had himself another nice game at third base

[moore4807]

We start a four game weekend series at home against the Giants. This series will also extend into Monday like last week.

[moore4807]

We escape with a win, on a hit-by-pitch no less...

Pitching Report - SP Marcus Stroman (5.1 IP, 8H, 4ER, 6BB, 3K's) struggled throughout, giving up a total of six walks, four unintentional. RP Ryan Brasier (0.2 IP, 0H, 0R, 0BB, 1K) pitched effectively in the sixth. RP Wyatt Mills (2 IP, 1H, 0R, 1BB, 4K's) kept the scoreboard full of zeroes until relieved by CL Archie Bradley (1 IP, 0H, 0R, 1BB, 0K) in the top of the ninth. Bradley picked up the win instead of his usual save.

Batting Report - Five runs on thirteen hits (again). I could get used to this output, its doing wonders in the win column. 2B Lourdes Gurriel Jr. (4/5, 2B, 1R) was smoking hot. CF Tim Witt (2/4, 1R, 1HR, 2RBI) played his part nicely, as SS Jose Iglesias (2/4, 1R, 1RBI) got the winning run home by sacrificing his body, instead of wielding his bat.

[moore4807]

Well a loss is a loss, but this feels more like we just were one hit away from taking control of the game.

Pitching Report - SP Jimmy Nelson (6.1 IP, 4H, 3ER, 0BB, 6K's) had one bad inning and the team couldn't rally enough to lift him to victory. RP Corbin Clouse (0.2 IP, 0H, 0R, 0BB, 2K's) cleaned up the seventh and RP Thomas Burrows (2 IP, 0H 0R, 1BB, 3K's) finished the final two frames.

Batting Report - One run on eight hits. RF Myles Straw (3/5, 1R 2SB) got on base, got to third on a C throwing error and scored on a groundout in the first, but withered out there the other two times. Pirates hitters had runners in scoring position three other innings and couldn't get them home. Disappointing...

[moore4807]

In MLB news;

Los Angeles(A) CF Mike Trout will miss time due to an intercostal strain injury.

Minnesota SP Jose Berrios is done for the year due to a ruptured UCL.

Boston SS Didi Gregorius suffered a broken kneecap and is sidelined for at least 9 months.

[moore4807]

The American League and National League voting results for this years All-Star game to be played at Oracle Park in San Francisco on July 14th 2020.

[moore4807]

Nice comeback win, although it shouldn't have been necessary, but its in the win column now.

Pitching Report - SP Demarcus Evans (5 IP, 1H, 1ER, 1BB, 3K's, 1HRA) threw well again for his second start in a Pirates uniform. RP Fernando Romero (0.1 IP, 2H, 3ER, 1BB, 0K, 1HRA) pretty much sealed his trip to the minors with this effort, I still have hopes for him but he's got to get straightened out and it cant be here and now. RP Corbin Clouse (1.2 IP, 0H, 0R, 2BB, 4K's) walked a tightrope of his own making, but escaped damage this time, while RP Ryan Brasier (0.2 IP, 1H, 0R, 1BB, 1K) needed a little help from RP Thomas Burrows (0.2 IP, 0H, 0R, 0BB, 0K) who then gave it over to CL Archie Bradley (0.2 IP, 0H, 0R, 0BB, 2K's, SV) for the final two outs.

Batting Report - Six runs on eleven hits got the job done. CF Tim Witt (3/4, 1R) and SS Jose Iglesias (2/4, 1R) were our multi hit players this game, 2B Lourdes Gurriel Jr. (1/2, 1RBI) and 2B Eduardo Nunez (1/2, 1R, 1RBI) combined for a good day at the plate. 1B Josh Ockimey (1/3, 1BB, 2R, 2RBI, 1HR) was the big bopper today with an early two run blast to right field to stake the Pirates to a 2-0 lead.

[moore4807]

We have climbed out of the lowest basement levels in the Power Rankings, up six spots to #24.

Also a nice note to see in the MLB news, even though most of his hits came with the Texas Rangers, CF Tim Witt is fourth in hits among all CF's to this point in the season.

San Diego Padres SS Fernando Tatis Jr. belted three HR's in a losing cause last night at Cincinnati's Great American Ballpark, falling to the Reds 8-7.

[moore4807]

Our 5W-2L week ALMOST offsets our 0-6 record from the week prior, but we still need good efforts to start our climb to respectability.

There have been a few good things happening this week, SP Demarcus Evans is adjusting well to his new role, 2B Lourdes Gurriel Jr. hitting and play in the field.

A few things are causing a drag on us too. Our C's batting average and play is sub par for the last couple weeks and both need to improve. RP Fernando Romero has a plane ticket to Indianapolis ready on my desk, and LF/CF Charlie Tilson is likely to join him too.


Roster Moves - RP Fernando Romero and LF Charlie Tilson are both put on irrevocable waivers and given their plane tickets to Indianapolis. RP/SP Conner W Jones and SS Kevin Newman are called up in their place.

[moore4807]

So again a four game series nets us a split, 2 wins and two losses. This loss was pretty convincing from the start. Moving SP Jameson Taillon up in the rotation a day didn't help anything and the Giants jumped all over Jameson and us from the first batter.

Pitching Report - SP Jameson Taillon (1.2 IP, 5H, 4ER, 0BB, 0K 2HRA) wasn't effective and got pulled early. RP Chad Kuhl (4.2 IP, 5H, 3ER, 2BB, 6K's) wasn't a whole lot better, but he did eat up some innings for us. RP Ryan Brasier (0.2 IP, 0H, 0R, 0BB, 0K) got out of the seventh, not allowing any inherited baserunners to score, and RP Wyatt Mills (2 IP, 4H, 2ER, 0BB, 3K's, WP) wasn't immune from the Giant's attack, giving up two runs in the eighth for the 9-3 final score.

Batting Report - Three runs on seven hits isn't bad, unless you give up more than that amount of runs/hits! 1B Josh Ockimey and RF Hunter Renfroe hit solo HR's and SS Jose Iglesias and PH Myles Straw had back to back doubles to score our three runs on the day. A totally forgettable performance IMHO.

[moore4807]

We have a three game set away against the Reds and immediately follow that with an away weekend series against the Cardinals.

We received a trade offer from Chicago(A) GM Rick Hahn. My immediate reaction is negative, but I look at my 40 man roster to see how many LHP I have on board first. I'm just a little deficient, only having 3 total LHP's there, but will not give up a prize recruit for a decent pitcher... Will be kicking the White Sox's tires to see what else he might part with in a trade.

[moore4807]

There was no shortage of offense in this game. Fortunately we took the lead early then hung on to weather the comeback.

Pitching Report - SP Marcus Stroman (5 IP, 6H 2ER, 2BB, 1K 1HRA) only went five innings and tapdanced his way out of trouble twice, but its still his win. RP Peter Fairbanks (2 IP, 1H, 0R, 1BB, 1K) got two innings of scoreless relief, then RP Thomas Burrows (1 IP, 2H 3R 2ER, 1BB, 1K) got lit up in his one inning before CL Archie Bradley (1 IP, 1H, 0R, 1BB, 1K) came on for his thirteenth save of the year.

Batting Report - Eight runs on eleven hits is a winning formula. LF Andrew Toles (2/4, 2R, 3RBI 1HR) had quite the game tonight. 2B Lourdes Gurriel Jr. (2/5 1R, 2RBI 1HR) also had a nice game too. 1B Josh Ockimey was our other multi hit batter tonight.

[moore4807]

We have at least two teams claiming RP Fernando Romero from waivers. Texas and Kansas City are the leading contenders so far. Romero is lugging around a 7.52 ERA and a .308 BAA this season. Joel Hanrahan tried working with him but reports he's not receptive to suggestions and wants to do it his way. Good luck to Fernando in his career.

Houston Astros closer Robero Osuna is headed to "Heartbreak Hill" after blowing out his flexor tendon, team spokesman says CL Osuna will be out the rest of the year with the injury.

[moore4807]

This win one game, then lose a winnable game, is making me see my internal medicine doctor too much! Geez!

Pitching Report - SP Jimmy Nelson (5 IP, 3H, 2ER, 4BB, 3K's 1HRA) managed to struggle through five innings before being lifted in the sixth inning. RP Corbin Clouse (1 IP, 0H, 0R, 1BB, 2K's) who got through the sixth unscathed, then was lifted for a pinch hitter in the seventh. RP Peter Fairbanks (1.2 IP, 1H, 1ER, 1BB, 1K) put the tying run on in the eighth and was relieved by RP Ryan Brasier (0.1 IP, 1H 0R, 0BB, 1K) who let the run score. CL Archie Bradley (0.2 IP, 1H, 1ER, 0BB, 1K 1HRA) got two outs in the ninth, before allowing a solo HR, ending his streak of scoreless innings at 13.

Batting Report - Three runs on nine hits wasn't enough. RF Myles Straw (2/5, 1R) and SS Jose Iglesias (2/3) had the only multi game hits today. 3B KeBryan Hayes (1/4, 1R, 1RBI, 1HR) had the only extra base hit today with his solo HR.

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The Texas Rangers were the winner of the RP Fernando Romero sweepstakes. Best of luck to Fernando with his career.

in MLB news;
Texas got a bit of good news yesterday too. SP Arial Jurado (9 IP, 3H, 0R, 0BB, 2K's) pitched a complete game shutout against the Washington Nationals.

Cincinnati Reds 1B Joey Votto had been diagnosed with a torn calf muscle, this will sideline him 4-5 months per the team spokesman.

Kansas City 1B Hunter Dozier was injured being hit by a pitch, the doctors say its a broken bone in the elbow, and Dozier will miss 4 months time because of it.

[moore4807]

Its pretty simple, they scored, we didn't.

Pitching Report - I'm happy with the first effort of SP Conner Jones (7 IP, 6H, 3ER, 2BB, 2K's 1HRA). Jones got through the first six innings without surrendering a run. RP Wyatt Mills (1 IP, 0H, 0R, 0BB, 2K's) pitched the eighth inning only allowing a HBP before getting out unscathed.

Batting Report - ZERO runs on four hits. Good pitching does that sometimes, but it happens a little too often around here to be always the reason.

[moore4807]

We move on from Cincinnati to St. Louis, hoping to find our bearings and straighten out our season. A three game weekend series is on tap and St. Louis is looking to add to our misery.

In MLB news, The BNN sportscasters made way too much of the Reds Martin Perez 4 hitting us, they made us sound like they were facing the New York(A) Yankees for cripes sakes!