CHRISTOPHER PANSINO – OVATHLETICS.COM
The Pirates dropped another close game against the Marlins yesterday. The 4-2 loss was a product of one very terrible inning of pitching by Paul Maholm and a complete lack of run support until the final two innings by the offense.
In their 81st loss of the season, one away from clinching an 18th consecutive losing seasons, was due in part to Paul Maholm terrible sixth inning. Maholm allowed five of his eight hits allowed in the sixth inning and would be charged with all four earned runs. But Maholm was not the sole reason they lost yesterday.
The run support tonight was lacking, more so than in most games. The Pirates accumulated just two hits in the first seven innings of the game. The Pirates had a total of 22 at bats to that point, that is one more than the minimum for seven innings.
And Marlins starter Sanabia would probably have pitched a complete game if he had not faltered in the seventh inning, allowing a run to score off a Chris Snyder ground rule double.
But the late inning rally ended at just two runs. A lead off homer by Andrew McCutchen narrowed the lead to 4-2, but the Pirates could only scraped together a lone single after that.
The Pirates will likely clinch an 18th consecutive losing season this weekend as they face the Mets for a three game series at home. The Pirates can still avoid 100 loses if they can win 24 of their next 41 games. Based on their current winning percentage (.331) and strength of schedule the rest of the way (Reds once, Braves once, and Cardinals three times), it seems like a long shot.
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