Extra-inning losses have been becoming popular for the Pirates as of late. Monday night’s 1-0 loss in the 10th inning was the the third time they failed to win in extras in the past four games.

Chan Ho Park came into the game in the 10th inning, but he wasn’t on the mound for very long. He allowed a double by Ruben Tejada, then Nick Evans’ came through with a pinch-hit single scoring the walk-off run.

The Pirates had the opportunity to take the lead in the 10th. Andrew McCutchen was on second base and Jose Tabata was at the plate, Manager John Russell wanted him to bunt.

“Andrew McCutchen on third with one out, there are a lot of ways to score from third,” Russell said. “Jose can bunt. We need to get Andrew to third base. With his kind of speed, a chopper, sac fly, anything is going to score him. With his kind of speed, it’s important to get him to third base.”

Things didn’t work out in the Pirates favor though. Tabata layed down possibly one of the worst bunts I have ever seen in my life. It landed just a few feet in front of the Mets catcher and he threw out McCutchen at third base.

Everyone in the ballpark knew he was bunting,” Thole said. “You have to take a shot. We’re trying to win this ballgame. We’re not playing for a tie.”

“It’s just one of those things — either you go or you don’t,” McCutchen said, unfairly shouldering some of the blame for the botched play. “I probably shouldn’t have gone. I went as soon as I saw the ball hit the ground.”

Unfortunately for James McDonald, his brillant pitching performance was over shadowed.

J-Mac needed just 100 pitches to get through eight shutout innings. He only allowed five hits, walked two and struck out four. It also extended his streak to 17 consecutive scoreless innings for McDonald.

“Every game, the goal is to put up zeroes and give your team a chance to win,” McDonald said. “Last time, these guys kind of roughed me up, so I had to motivate myself to pound the strike zone, get ahead of these guys.”

It was also McDonald’s longest outing of his career and he only needed 100 pitches to do it. What has been the key for J-Mac?

“Making pitches when I have to, getting the ball down in the zone when I need to and good defense.”

“He’s been consistent. That’s the main thing,” Russell said. “He’s got the stuff, but being consistent like he is, he’s able to have clean innings, his pitch count stays low. He’s really grown over these last few starts.”  

The Pirates picked-up their 56th loss away from home. (Think of it this way, as Jenifer Langosch tweeted: For added perspective: the Rays have lost 56 games total in 2010.)

Notes:

• The Pirates are 0-3 at Citi Field since it opened in 2009. (This is their first trip to the big apple this season.)
• The Mets are 40-27 at home this season but have fallen to 10-11 since the All-Star break.
• Neil Walker looks to extend his current hit streak to 19, which would be a Pirates rookie franchise record.
• Luis Heredia, Jameson Taillon and Stetson Allie will all report to Pirates city this week for the first round of instructional league.
• Chan Ho Park is currently tied with Hideo Nomo for most wins by an Asian-born pitcher. (123) Park has only given up one earned run in his last 12 appearances.

Pitching Matchup:

James McDonald 3-5, 4.81 ERA

VS

Dillon Gee1-0, 1.29 ERA

McDonald battled the Braves and even outdueled ace Tim Hudson during his last start. He picked up his third win pitching seven shutout innings, gave up five hits, walked three and struck out three. J-Mac has been a different story on the road with an alarming 6.50 ERA. He has since been working on some mechanical issues that hopefully translate to his start against the Mets.  

Gee is making his second major league start for the Mets. His first start was pretty impresive, a no-hitter until the sixth inning. Gee pitched seven innings giving up two hits on one run, (a home run by Willie Harris) walked three and struck out four. Dillon also picked up a hit during his first at-bat, a RBI single.

Pirates Lineup:

McCutchen CF

Tabata LF

Walker 2B

Jones 1B

Alvarez 3B

Bowker RF

Cedeno SS

Snyder C

McDonald P

Mets Lineup:

Reyes SS

Pagan RF

Beltran CF

Wright 3B

Davis 1B

Thole C

Duda LF

Hernandez 2B

Gee P