CHRISTOPHER PANSINO – OVATHLETICS.COM
The Pirates started the second half of the season much differently than they did the first half. The 5-2 loss at PNC park was filled with mistakes and very poorly played baseball. It was really difficult to watch as they were a rusty in their return.
Also it did not help that the Pirates faced the Houston Astros, a team they have yet to beat this season despite their below average record of 37-53.
Zack Duke returned from the disabled list yesterday and pitched for five complete innings. Duke did not struggle much, allowing five hits and two earned runs while striking out five. Duke was removed after 78 pitches in an effort not to overextend him too much.
However, the Astros would add runs off of D.J. Carrasco and Sean Gallagher in the sixth and seventh inning to reach their 5 run total.
And that was more than enough to ruin the Pirates who played the field as well as little leaguers tonight. High on the list of fundamental mistakes made tonight included a run down situation in the fourth when Duke caught Pence wandering to far of first. Instead of getting the out Pence was allowed to return to first after Shortstop Ronny Cedeno tried to outrun Pence rather than flipping the ball to Duke who was covering first.
And a close second came in the eight innings with the Pirates up to bat and the tying run at the plate, Andy LaRoche was caught wandering to far off second by the Astros catcher Humberto Quinterno. That is correct, the catcher caught the pitch and had enough time to pick off LaRoche 127 feet away. The airhead move ended the inning and any chance of a comeback.
The Pirates score just two run the entire night, including a sacrifice fly in the fourth by Neil Walker to score McCutchen and a RBI single by McCutchen to score Milledge in the eighth.
The Pirates will look to break their seven consecutive game losing streak as well as their seven game losing streak to the Astros tomorrow. With a lot of luck they might just do it too.
