Pirates Shutout for Tenth Time 7-0 by Neck-Inked Diamondbacks

Ross Ohlendorf gave up only two earned runs, but had no key offensive help from his Pirates teammates in a 7-0 loss in the Arizona heat last night.  Ohlendorf fell to 8-8 on the season and his ERA is 4.51, WHIP 1.32.  He has allowed three runs or less in his last three starts. 

Break out your ugly stick.  This was as nasty as a Barstow barstool and just as misleading when you gaze at the boxscore.  Ohlendorf got most of his help on Diamondback baserunning gaffes in front of 26,000 plus at Chase Field.

Credit Ohlendorf for never allowing a huge inning as fought off not having his best command to give the Pirates a chance for the win.  He battled through the first four innings.  The double play ball, defensive gems and snake blunders were his friend.

Leadoff hits hindered Ross, but he faced the minimum through three innings despite allowing two doubles and a single.

The fouth inning proved, again, to be the killer for Ross when Justin Upton took a hanging breaking ball into the seats for his 18th homerun on the season.  It was Ohlendorf’s 15th homer allowed this year, but the first one in 27 innings ( a month ago against those bitter ‘rivals,’ the Cleveland Indians.)

The fourth inning has started the trouble for Ohlendorf this year.  Take a look…first inning through third innings he has a 3.16 ERA, but in the fourth through sixth innings it jumps to 6.88 and from the seventh inning on it gets up to an ugle 7.84.  Those numbers were actually improved last night.

Ross had a single to help his cause, but the story of the season–poor baserunning, struck again as Brandon Moss was thrown out at the plate despite a high throw.

The Snakes were not pretty last night, but they came on strong in the end and just like a closing time hookup at your local tavern or that Barstow one, this one was sloppy, but nonetheless satisfying for the Snake(s).

Some thoughts:

The Pirates fell to 3-32 when they score three runs or less.

Blunders on the basepaths, a lack of key hitting, and a rare two error performance by the Pirates defense were the difference last night.  It was not a pretty game.

Will Steve Pearce produce?  He seems much more relaxed at the plate.  Is this a scholarship or a much deserved opportunity?  Time will tell.  His poor throw in the fourth ended 72 errorless innings by the Pirates defense and gave the Diamondbacks the 3-0 lead.  Pearce has a solid glove, remember his AA errorless streak a few years back?

Nobody wanted to score early in this game.  Baserunners were thrown out, or more like–ran into outs all over the diamond.

Rocco DeMaro pointed out that the Pirates are awful on the bags.  Third worse in the NL with 42 outs on the basepaths.

Follow Rocco and get this as a tweet in your phone///LaRoche last 44g (181PAs): .230/.307/.348=.655OPS Thats since June 1st.

Two more hits for Garrett Jones
*Enter

Andrew McCutchen is a helluva spark for the club.  He led off the game with a double.  He had a leadoff walk in the third, but was erased on a GIDP by Roy Hobbs  Garrett Jones. 

The game even took on the look of an ugly late night at your local tavern so pass me the bottle Mr. Jones.  All of this Diamondbacks neck ink was strutted around the field.  It is downright  intimidating.  Maybe that’s what happened last night.  Jon Rauch is 6’11” and has a very average 1.35 WHIP but we couldn’t score on him.  Gotta be the neck ink.  If one on the neck wasn’t enough, Rauch has an entire CNN/SI article about his ink canvas/body.

Jack Wilson backing up Moss in left last night?!  Say what you will about Wilson’s hammy being tight and missing time, but Jack hustles.  Nightly.  He was near the damn warning track last night when he threw the runner out at third.  Sick.

 Hell, bring up any soft tossing junk baller to throw everyday in BP.  I am sick after watching this tonight….Arizona starting southpaw Doug Davis has five wins and ten losses.  Please explain to me how the Pirates suck against junk ballers and rake against aces?   Trust me.  It’s a good sign and a fixable problem, but how long until we fix it?  All year?

Davis had five strikeout s through the first four innings.  66 to 69 mph.  Davis’ final line 111 pitches five hits, three walks, and EIGHT strikeouts. Sigh.

When Evan Meek hits 96mph I get excited about the future.

Garrett Jones is the best fielding first baseman…playing the outfield in the major leagues.  And the MLB player of the month for July.  What a catch in the seventh inning.

Jones followed up the running over the shoulder catch with his second hit of the night, a two out single in the eighth inning against the shift of the Arizona defense.  Ryan Doumit does the same although his was a soft bleeder. 

Does it seem like Jones is bringing out the best in Doumit or vice versa?  I love it.

Pearce comes to the plate as the tying run with Jones and Doumit on base.  He works the count to 3-1 before he bounced a weak grounder to Reynolds at third.  Ugh.

The Pirates had outhit the Snakes until the eighth inning.  While the Bucs couldn’t hit with runners in scoring position, the Snakes were terribly effective at it.  A four run eighth inning with balls ripped past Pearce, an error on a two run RBI single that was played into a triple by Moss in left field, poor pitch selection, well you get the picture…all of this chased Meek and made the score 7-0 Arizona.

Bright side?  Meek’s eighth inning performance allowed an appearance by Donnie Veal who quickly got the last out of the inning.

The usually solid defensive player Moss would have had two errors on the night if not for Jack Wilson’s great hustling play.

The Pirates went quietly in the ninth until another two out blunder.  This one was by Snake 3B Reynolds (his 16th)  on a Tekulve like throw that allowed the hustling Jack Wilson to reach first base.

Wilson grimaced painfully as he limped back to the bag.  Sort of like the Pirates fans who spent their Saturday night watching this game.

With Wilson on Delwyn Young had another pinch hit, this one his tenth on the year.  Cutch was the culprit with RISP this time as he flew out to centerfield to end the game.

Chew your arm off Bucco fans.  Those neck inked Snakes are nasty.

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Pedro Alvarez did it again last night vaulting his team to victory with one swing of the bat.

The Cubs are looking for left handing pitching it says here.  The Cubs farm system is awful.  Bad move.  They won’t give up Vitters.  But SS Starlin Castro…hmmm…

Colton Cain update

"You already know that 1B-P Cain batted .486 at Waxahachie High as a junior, adding nine home runs and 48 RBIs as a solid first baseman. He might be an even better pitcher — he recorded a 12-1 record with a 0.76 ERA and 131 strikeouts his junior season.What you don’t know is that Cain said he turned down the initial offer from the Pirates, which was presented two weeks ago. He hasn’t heard back from them since.  The family is on vacation now."