Morning Rundown: Pirates lose in extra-innings, try to salvage series on Sunday
Pirates drop third game in Marlins series in extra innings
The Pittsburgh Pirates took another lead late into a game against the Miami Marlins, and for the second time, they couldn’t hold on, this time in extra innings.
Bailey Falter was strong in his season debut, pitching six innings of two-run baseball, not allowing a walk and striking out four. Dennis Santana pitched a scoreless eighth inning, with Colin Holderman tossing the ninth after David Bednar was used in the first two games.
Jack Suwinski went 1-5 with a double, but also had a home run robbed from him that would have given Pittsburgh the lead late.
There were more mishaps, bad sends from the third base coach, and blunders in the outfield, including Oneil Cruz throwing past the cutoff man to allow a runner to take an extra base.
He also dropped a fly ball in center (it was at the end of what looked like a long run, but it definitely went off the glove). Cruz did go 0-2 at the plate, but also walked four times and stole another two bases.
Tommy Pham was thrown out at home on a single by Bryan Reynolds in the 12th with no outs. The Marlins won during the bottom of that inning.
The Pirates will now need to win on Sunday to avoid losing two of three against the Marlins. Andrew Heaney will make his first regular-season start for the Pirates, facing former top-100 prospect Max Meyer.
First pitch is scheduled for 1:40 pm ET
Pittsburgh Pirates sent RF Joshua Palacios outright to Indianapolis Indians
Pittsburgh Pirates sent RHP Peter Strzelecki outright to Indianapolis Indians
Top Exit Velocity
Jack Suwinski - 110.4 mph - Groundout
Jack Suwinski - 105.9 mph - Double
Ke’Bryan Hayes - 104.3 mph - Groundout
Jack Suwinski - 103.7 mph - Flyout
Bryan Reynolds - 102.3 mph - Single
Top Pitch Velocity
Colin Holderman - 98 mph
Colin Holderman - 97.7 mph
Colin Holderman - 97.1 mph
Colin Holderman - 97 mph
Colin Holderman - 96.8 mph
Most Whiffs
Bailey Falter - 9
Dennis Santana - 5
Joey Wentz - 3
Colin Holderman - 2
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I’m pretty bemused by the notion of Pham getting in people’s faces. The only way he can make a difference is to get in Ben & Derry’s faces.
Seriously, it’d be nice if the Pirates suddenly started doing the “little things,” but it’s really just a deflection. It’s the latest version of Jim Tracy’s “secret formula” of pitching, defense and timely hitting. The Pirates have had a bottom five group of position players for six straight seasons. No volume of “little things” can make up for that. The “little things” are irrelevant when you don’t have good players. Get good players first, then worry about “little things.”
And that’s apart from the absurdity of thinking that the same management team that’s failed for six seasons to produce a team that can do the “little things” has any chance of producing one now.
Ill take Jack as seeming to have a positive night at the plate and call it there