Final Score: Pirates 3 Orioles 2
Why The Pirates Won: This is an easy one. The Orioles committed 2 throwing errors that led to all of the Pirate's scoring. The Pirates needed some hitting to set up the runs, but the bottom line was the Pirates scored 3 runs on 3 singles. What is ironic is that the Orioles flashed some pretty impressive leather in the outfield and the infield in the last 2 games. Unfortunately, they had trouble throwing the ball after some of these spectacular plays were made. The rotation is definitely picking up as Marco Gonzales gave the Pirates their 4th straight quality start. He went 6 innings giving up 2 runs on 5 hits, striking out 4 and not giving up a walk. The Pirate pitching staff has not given up a walk in 2 out of the last 3 games. Over the last 3 innings the bullpen of Contreras and Hernandez shut out the Orioles on just one hit. The bats were quiet for most of the game as the Pirates only got 7 hits with 6 being singles. Henry Davis although hitless again, did get a crucial sacrifice fly to drive in a run in the bottom of the 5th. The Pirates won the series and improved their record to 8-2. Thank you, Orioles.
Key Moment Of The Game: It was the bottom of the 9th with Pirates trailing 2-1. The inning started with 2 singles, one by Ke'Bryan Hayes and the other by Jack (I Can't Believe I Got A Hit) Suwinski to put runners on 1st and 3rd with nobody out. Conner Joe walked to load the bases. Rowdy Tellez hit a ground ball to the first baseman and the throw beat Hayes by a mile, but the home plate umpire ruled the runner safe. It is hard to say what happened there. Is the home plate umpire related to Greg Brown. Did he think it was not a force out and the runner needed to be tagged. No matter, instant replay came to the rescue, with the horrible call being overturned to leave the bases loaded with one out. You just had to have that sinking feeling that the Pirates were going to go scoreless with the bases loaded and nobody out for the second consecutive game. This time it was going to cost them the game. Sure enough, Edward Olivares hit a ball up the middle that Gunnar Henderson made a diving stop, touch the bag with his glove and gunned the throw to first to double up Olivares and end the game. Except for one thing, he threw the ball about 5 yards to the left of the bag, and it went into the stands to send both runners home to end the game, giving the Pirates an unbelievable 3-2 win. As Bob Prince use to say, how sweet it is. God, I miss him.
Next Game: Tonight, the Tigers in Pittsburgh. Now that he has seen how it is done, maybe Mitch Keller can keep the quality start streak going for the rotation. Even though it has only been 10 games, it has been one hell of a start to the season. The Pirates have won 3 extra innings games and one 9th inning walk off. In the beginning it was the offense and bullpen and now the rotation is carrying the team. The 3-2 homestand seems like it can be done. Bring those Tigers on baby.
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