Pirates Morning Report: Surprise, Surprise, Surprise

vet4golfing51

April 15

Final Score: Pirates 9 Phillies 2

Why The Pirates Won: The Pirate offense got well today hitting 3 home runs and scoring 9 runs. They touched up the Phillies ace Zack Wheeler for 5 runs in just 5+ innings of work. The offense wound up having quite a line, scoring 9 runs on 10 hits, walking 6 times and striking out a whopping 15 times. Oneil Cruz and Michael Taylor led the way striking out 4 times each. The other odd thing was that the top of the order went 0 for 10 with 6 strikeouts. The 3 through 6 hitters picked up the slack, going 8 for 17 with 2 home runs and 6 RBI's. Mitch Keller pitched not a great but solid 7 innings giving up 2 runs on 8 hits walking no one and striking out 4. Trea Turner was his nemesis hitting a home run and knocking in the other run with a 2 out single. Through 5 innings this was the tight pitching duel that was expected. Despite having an error, the Pirate defense had one of their better games turning 3 double plays and making numerous good plays in both the infield and the outfield.

Key Moment Of The Game: Through 5 innings the Phillies were leading 2-1 and Zack Wheeler was mowing them down. In the top of the 6th, Ke'Bryan Hayes reached first base on an error by the Phillies 3rd baseman when a routine ground ball went right under his glove. Then Rowdy Tellez walked. McCutchen blooped a ball into centerfield and the Pirates had the bases loaded with no outs. Up stepped Jack Suwinski who had not gotten a hit in about his last 12 at bats. On the second pitch, he laced one 106+ MPH into the right field stands for a grand slam and the Pirates suddenly were ahead 5-2, knocking Wheeler out of the box. Later in the same inning Joey Bart launched one into the left field seats and the Pirates now led 6-2. The Pirates added one in the 8th, and McCutchen hit his 300th home run with a man on in the 9th to make the final 9-2. The bullpen pitched a stress free final 2 innings and the Pirates are 11-5.

Next Game: Tonight, the Mets in New York. Martin Perez will start for the Pirates and has had a great start to the season with an ERA of 1.89. The Pirates continue to surprise. When you think they are forfeiting a game by letting Bailey Falter start his 2nd game he essentially pitches a no hitter for 6 innings and the Pirates win. When the Phillies send their ace to the mound to face the slumping Pirate bats, they score 9 runs and hit 3 home runs. These are surprises I can deal with all year. The road trip is 2-2 and now 3-4 seems very realistic.