The Pirates are not singing in the rain after 5-1 loss to the Mets in shortened game

 

Last night did not end well for the Buccos as they lost their fifth straight game, the eigth time this season they have lost at least five straight. 

I’m was one of those idiots you probally saw on T.V. sitting through two delays and five plus innings of rain. It wasn’t just sprinkling either. At times it was like a monsoon. I don’t mind sitting through the rain actually, on hot summer days, it usually feels pretty darn good.

 

“I thought the guys were into it, even with the rain,” said manager John Russell. “They were having fun with it. I would have liked to have seen what would have happened if we had finished it.” 

Unfortunately, the Bucs didn’t get the oppurtunity to finish the game as it was called in the top of the sixth inning.

James McDonald pitched five innings giving up five runs on six hits, struck out five and walked four. J-Mac was really struggling with the weather and you could tell he was letting it get the best of him. In the fifth inning with two mets on base. McDonald threw a 1-1 fastball to David Wright who launched it over the center field wall for a three-run homerun, giving the Mets a 5-1 lead.

 

“That was a good pitch he hit, so I have to tip my hat to him,” McDonald said. “He took a good swing at a good pitch.”

“McDonald has got really good stuff, and I think he is very good and is only going to get better,” Wright said. “He’s got very good secondary pitches and has got enough on his fastball to throw it by you. As a hitter, against a guy like that, you really have to go up there and look for certain pitches, and I was fortunate and got lucky and got one I was looking for.” 

The Pirates have not scored more than two runs in nine of their past 10 games.

“It’s not his best start obviously, but it’s a four-run game and we still have a chance to do something,” Russell said. “It did get away from him just a little bit. He didn’t have his best stuff tonight and he still managed to pitch pretty well, with the exception of the three-run homer. 

 

 

 

News and Notes:

• Rudy Owens at Double-A Altoona last night: 5IP 6H 2R 0BB 6K
• Great Article by Pittsburgh-Post Gazette’s Dejan Kovacevic: “Pirates, Mexican ace faced long odds, long route” –PPG 
• Triple-A Starter Brad Lincoln has been placed on the Minor League DL (retroactive to Aug. 20), due to neck stiffness but is expected to miss only one start.  Chris Jakubauskas will fill in the open spot on the roster.  Brad still seems like a likely september call-up.
• (Via @RobBiertempfel) Pirates might consider 6-man rotation if RHP Brad Lincoln is recalled in September.
• (Via @RobBiertempfel) Pirates players had a closed-door team meeting before tonite’s game against Mets. Bucs have lost 4 straight, 22 of past 28 games.
• The Pirates would need to go 23-16 the rest of the season to avoid the first 100-loss season.

• Triple-A Catcher Jason Jaramillo and Pirates reliever Sean Gallagher both have committed to playing winter ball. GM Neal Hunington said recently that he hoped more of the Pirates organization’s players would take part.

  “Winter ball, you usually look at guys who missed time — guys who are in the early stages of development who haven’t played a lot,” said manager John Russell. “We don’t have too many of those guys. We’re going to have a lot of guys who are going to have a lot of at-bats and innings.”

  Expect most of this years participants to be from the minor-leagues.

 

Today’s Pitching Matchup:

Johan Santana 10-7, 2.97 ERA

VS

Zach Duke 5-12, 5.33 ERA

Santana allowed four runs over eight innings in a 4-3 loss to the Astros on Tuesday night. In his last three starts however, Johan is 2-1 with an 1.48 ERA. Johan pitched a four hit complete game shutout against the Rockies on the 12th, striking out ten.

Duke lost his 12th game his last time out, in eight of those losses he has allowed four or more runs in one inning. Zach hasn’t picked up a W since July 21st against the Brewers. 

 

 

*Check back later tonight. I got a really cool tour of the Pirates press box, FSN truck, Pirates dugout, and more. I have a lot of fun pictures to share with you guys.