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Pittsburgh Pirates Will Hit Season Long Winning Streak Tonight
By Tom Smith
Sep 8, 2014; Philadelphia, PA, USA; Pittsburgh Pirates left fielder Starling Marte (left) and center fielder Andrew McCutchen (center) and right fielder Travis Snider (right) congratulate each other on a victory over the Philadelphia Phillies at Citizens Bank Park. The Pirates defeated the Phillies 6-4. Mandatory Credit: Bill Streicher-USA TODAY Sports
The Pittsburgh Pirates haven’t won five straight games this season. But that will change in a few hours when they defeat David Buchanan and the Philadelphia Phillies.
It’s hard to imagine that the Pittsburgh Pirates haven’t won at least five in a row, right?
Well not really I guess. I mean at first it seems that way, but the Pittsburgh Pirates suck on the road this season. So after the win tonight in Philadelphia, the Pirates will have their longest winning streak of the 2014 season.
The ball club is starting to get both solid starting pitching and is seeing their offense click in the same game. In this current four game streak, the offense has come to life again since the St. Louis Cardinals walked them off in a 1-0 game at Busch Stadium last Wednesday. The best offense in baseball, at least according to some of the stats I follow, has scored 26 runs since this happened:
Sep 3, 2014; St. Louis, MO, USA; St. Louis Cardinals center fielder Peter Bourjos (8) is mobbed by teammates after hitting a walk off game winning single during the ninth inning against the Pittsburgh Pirates at Busch Stadium. The Cardinals defeated the Pirates 1-0. Mandatory Credit: Jeff Curry-USA TODAY Sports
A lot of fans thought the season was over.
We didn’t and we wrote about it here. What? Over? The Pittsburgh Pirates Season Isn’t Over.
Andrew McCutchen has done something he has never done during his great career as the Pittsburgh Pirates center fielder. Cutch has had three straight three hit games. Statrling Marte has been hotter than Justin Verlander’s wife since August 5th. #MartePartay has put up a .350 average since coming back from his concussion with a .409 OBP and a .583 slugging. The .992 OPS is good for fourth in baseball.
The team continues to battle back and last night was their 37th come-from-behind win which is first in the NL and second in the Majors.
Quietly, Neil Walker has become the best offensive second baseman in the National League. Even though missing considerable time this year, #Hometown ranks first among NL second basemen in homers (19), OBP (.350) & slugging pct. (.467) while second in driving in his teammates 63 times.
And finally, Walker’s double play partner, Jordy Mercer has played like one of the best shortstops in the game (offensively at least) since May 31. #MercerTime ranks second in RBI and slugging and third in average and perhaps most impressive is the fact that Mercer’s ten homers are tied for fourth in the Majors since May 31.
Our confidence tonight comes from the starter (and it doesn’t hurt the Bucs have outscored the Phillies 23-10 this season.) Pitching for the Pittsburgh Pirates tonight is Edinson Volquez who has allowed just six earned runs in his last 39.1 innings pitched. Since his last road loss on May 17 in the Bronx, Volquez has won four straight pitching 55.1 innings and giving up just 14 earned runs for a 2.28 ERA.