Final Score: Pirates 6 Diamondbacks 5 in 10 innings
Why The Pirates Won: The Pirates won for three reasons. Mitch Keller pitched an outstanding 7 innings. With the exception of Colin Holderman the bullpen did the job. The Diamondbacks gave us plenty of assistance in the top of the 10th inning. In what could have been the most disastrous inning of the year, Colin Holderman gave up 3 runs and had the tying run on third base before getting the last out on a ground ball to first. Holderman has a fastball that is between 97 and 99 MPH much like David Bednar. A few times this year he has touched 100 MPH. Unlike David Bednar, HE RARELY THROWS IT. He threw 26 pitches in the bottom of the 10th where he was knocked around pretty good and threw 2 fastballs. He gave up 2 home runs and a triple. Thank God the Pirates had a 4 run lead going into the bottom of the 10th.
Key Moments Of The Game: The Joey Bart 2 out double in the top of the 9th was the big hit of the game. It tied the score 2-2, keeping the Pirates and Mitch Keller from losing a game where he gave up only 2 hits. The Pirates scored 4 runs in the top of the 10th and if this was hockey the Diamondbacks would have been given several assists. With the ghost runner on 2nd base, Ji Hwan Bae bunted the ball, and the Diamondback pitcher must not have had a clue on how fast Bae is. He looked toward third and had no chance to get Bae. It would have been close even if he immediately threw the ball. Assist no. 1. He walks Yasmani Grandal on 4 pitches. Assist no. 2. McCutchen grounds into a force out at home. A wild pitch sends the first run of the inning home. Assist no. 3. The Diamondbacks decide to intentionally walk Oneil Cruz to load the bases. Assist no.4. Alika Williams is hit by the pitch to force in run no. 4. Assist no. 5. Josh (Expect More Zero For Five Nights From Me) Palacios grounds out forcing the runner at the plate. With two outs Ke'Bryan (Please Trade Him So I Won't Have To Keep Typing That Apostrophe) Hayes hit a soft 70 MPH line drive for a single that scored runs 5 and 6, which turned out to be the winning runs. The inning line: Pirates 4 runs, 2 hits, Diamondbacks 5 assists.
Next Game: Tonight, Astros in Houston. Someway, somehow, the Pirates pulled out the win yesterday. If Paul Skenes can beat the Astros, tonight it will make the road trip 2-2 and at least avoid a disaster. Bryan Reynolds is coming back today, and it looks like Jack Suwinski is going down to AAA. At least that move shows the Pirates may be thinking of trying to make the playoffs. Cherington is already preparing Pirate fans for the likelihood that the Pirates are not going to make any trades. Maybe he is just trying to fool us. After all, he already knows we are fools for following this team.
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