CHRISTOPHER PANSINO – OVATHLETICS.COM
Pirate dropped another game as they were out-hit and out-pitched by the Cubs yesterday at PNC Park. With the 6-1 loss the Pirates finished their homestand with a record of 3-3 and remain 11 games under .500 on the season.
Dana Eveland got the start today, his first since being acquired from the Blue Jays six days ago. He lasted only five inning and 76 pitches before being removed for a pinch hitter. He gave up six hits, two walks, and three earned runs without striking out a single batter. The loss brought Eveland record this season to 3-5. Not exact the kind of start the Pirates were looking for when they acquired him.
Meanwhile the Pirates were able to do little against Cubs starter Carlos Silva who improved to 8-0 on the season. Silva gave up just four hits and one earned run while striking out five in his seven innings on the mound.
The closest the Pirates got to breaking open the game came in the bottom of the fifth when McCutchen stepped to the plate with bases loaded and two outs. At that point the game was 3-0 and a hit was guaranteed to get at least a run or two. But he would fly out to left field to end the inning.
The Pirates would score the lone run in the seventh off a sacrifice fly by Jason Jaramillo.
The bullpen also struggled in today’s game giving up a combined three runs. Joel Hanrahan in particular had a rotten day, allowing three hits and two runs in the ninth inning. Though Hanrahan did strikeout three, he put the Pirates in a deeper hole that would require a near miracle to get out of.
But the Pirates seemed to have other things on their mind today. At the top of that list was probably their game Tuesday with the Washington Nationals as Stephen Strasburg is set to make his major league debut. This highly anticipated start has been talked about since he was drafted a year ago.
The Pirates look to be starting Jeff Karstens (1-1) tomorrow in replacement for the injured Charlie Morton.
