Final Score: Pirates 5 Royals 0
Why The Pirates Won: Johan Oviedo pitched one of the best games of the year shutting out the Royals on just 2 hits, walking 2 and striking out 5. The most amazing thing about the performance was that the Royals never got a man into scoring position. Thanks to a double play, he faced only 18 batters over the last 6 innings. The Pirate offense had a nice game getting 5 runs on 12 hits and 4 walks. They scored a run in the 2nd, a run in the 3rd, and added on nicely in the 7th and 8th. Ke'Bryan Hayes went 4-4 with a WALK, and finally became a league average hitter. If he can maintain that he could become a major asset to this team. I am one never to judge wins. After all the Oakland A's took 2 out of 3 against the Pirates and then went into Milwaukee and swept the Brewers. However, this does not change the fact that the Royals really stink. They are the perfect definition of a team in malaise. That's not to say that they won't win the next 2 games, because the Pirates are just a notch above them, but they are just playing out the string if last night was any indication.
Key Moment Of The Game: The Pirates were nursing that 2-0 lead going into the top of the 7th and really had not done much since the 3rd inning. The inning opened well enough with Alfonso Rivas getting a double to left. Then Alika (Why Am I Playing In The Major Leagues) Williams laid down a horrible bunt and Rivas was thrown out at third base. Bae flied out and it looked like the Pirates had messed up another opportunity. But alas, singles by Hayes, McCutchen and an infield hit by Palacios where the pitcher was slow to cover 1st base netted the Pirates 2 runs, which pretty much iced this game. A nice start to the road trip.
Next Game: Tonight, Royals in Kansas City. As of now the Pirates don't have a starting pitcher listed on the web site. At least the bullpen is well rested. Could we get a sweep on the road? Only the Shelton knows for sure.
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