Final Score: Pirates 3 Mets 6
Why The Pirates Lost: Oniel Cruz's at bats summed up this lost. He struck out 3 times, He took 6 strikes, and all 3 swings were out of the strike zone. On his last at bat, again he took a strike, swung at a pitch out of the strike zone, but did manage to hit a ball to right field to end the game. Rowdy Tellez had one excellent at bat to start the top of the 8th. He took a strike, swung at a ball and took a called 3rd strike. Both pitches were well inside the strike zone, far from borderline. Even though they managed 3 runs the offense really stunk out the joint. They only got 3 hits. They walked 7 times but struck out 10. On the defensive side of the ball Henry Davis and Connor Joe excelled. Davis had trouble catching anything and made a lousy effort on a tag play at the plate. Just to go along with the offensive philosophy of the night, he took 3 called strikes in the top of the 9th, with all of them well within the strike zone. Connor Joe caught a ball and just had to toss it into the infield to keep the runners from moving up, but threw in the dirt toward the dugout, allowing the second Met run to score. The Pirates were ahead going into the bottom of the 6th and completely collapsed. The pitching staff gave up 3 runs in the 6th and 3 runs in the 8th as the Pirates lost 6-3 to send their record to 11-6. There can only be one explanation for such an all-round poorly played game. That trip from Philadelphia to New York must have been brutal with the time change and all. If it would have been possible, I am sure that Shelton would have rested anybody that played Sunday, after such a brutal travel day. This was by far their worst game of the year.
Key Moments Of The Game: The Pirates had taken a 3-0 lead in the top of the sixth. Martin Perez had danced through some raindrops but was cruising along pretty well. Then the Mets opened the inning with 2 singles. Perez got Pete Alonzo to pop up in the infield one out. One more single loaded the bases and the Pirates started to crumble from bus lag. Perez walked in the first run. Then a pop up to short right field that Connor Joe managed to catch but then crapped his pants and threw the ball at the same time allowing the second run to score. Shelton then removed Perez in favor of Hunter (I Like To Throw The Ball Right Down The Middle In High Leverage Situations) Stratton. This type of pitching resulted in a double and the score was tied 3-3. Just for good measure he hit the next batter but did manage to get the third out, FINALLY. Then came the Henry Davis show in the bottom of the 8th that sealed the deal for Mets. Aroldis Chapman started the 8th and struck out the first batter. Then Jeff McNeil struck out on a ball low and away that was ruled a wild pitch, but Henry Davis made a half ass swipe at the ball and literally scooted the ball further to the left to allow McNeil to reach first base. It was the key play of the game. Chapman walked the next batter and both he and McNeil stole 2nd and 3rd. A double by Harrison Bader gave the Mets a 5-3 lead. They added another run thanks to the Davis I don't know how to tag play.
Next Game: Tonight, the Mets in New York. Hopefully the Pirates will be well rested after such an exhausting trip. Jared Jones will take the hill for the Pirates'. The road trip stands at 2-3. I know it has been exhausting for me, just watching them play the way they did last night. I have nothing more to write except I hope there are better days ahead.
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