Pittsburgh Pirates NL Wild Card Game Report Card

40. 0. 4. Final. 8

F. Eddie didn’t have it from the jump despite extending his remarkable consecutive scoreless innings streak to 21.  No swing and miss stuff, just stuff.  He survived on guts as he did when he took the ball all season long for the Bucs.  When Volquez started missing spots, the Giants struck at the opportunity.  The Pirates didn’t have a back up plan and despite being down four runs–not an unsurmountable lead by any stretch, the Pirates pitching staff couldn’t keep it at four.  Why Volquez pitched at all after five innings is more mind numbing than the decision to start him in the first place. The reason the Pirates got to the postseason had an awful lot to do with Volquez, the reason the team didn’t win had a lot to do with him as well.  . P. Pittsburgh Pirates. EDINSON VOLQUEZ

JUSTIN WILSON. F. For some reason, Clint Hurdle chose the game that could send the team surfing the rest of October as an opportunity for Justin Wilson to make Pirates fans forget his forgettable season.  Instead, Wilson continued to pitch like he did for most of the season.  . RP. Pittsburgh Pirates

B+. Josh Harrison had half of his teams hits. The leadoff hitter did what leadoff hitters are supposed to do, his Pirates teammates failed to back him up.. 3B. Pittsburgh Pirates. JOSH HARRISON

SS. Pittsburgh Pirates. JORDY MERCER. F. Jordy Mercer has hit lefties well which is why he was put in the two hole in the lineup against Madison Bumgarner.  Mercer looked lost in his approach.  Bumgarner abused him.  Two strikeouts including including one when the Bucs had two runners on with one out in the eighth.  The poor offensive performance including stranding another runner as well.  

D. One walk was all that Andrew McCutchen could produce in the biggest game in PNC Park history.  We expected more from the reigning MVP.  Bumgarner wanted little to do with Cutch, but with an opportunity to erase the shutout, Cutch left three runners on base. The Bucs superstar looked like he was trying to carry the load and failed in his efforts in this game which was very surprising.. MVP. Pittsburgh Pirates. ANDREW MCCUTCHEN

C. The idea of a bunt single was a failure.  Martin is the Pirates game changer, and has been a game changer in important games for the team.  The Pirates catcher had a weak single, but nonetheless a single.  The game calling was good early, but as the game got away from the Pirates there was little Martin could do.  . C. Pittsburgh Pirates. RUSSELL MARTIN

Pittsburgh Pirates. STARLING MARTE. C+. Starling Marte had the best approach of the Bucs hitters.  A few balls hit hard, with only a seventh inning single to show for his efforts.. LF

2B. Pittsburgh Pirates. NEIL WALKER. F. The Pittsburgh Kid had a phenomal season, but picked the worst time to have such an awful game.  Walker struckout twice in his first two at-bats when the game was still within reach.  Two pop outs that didn’t get out of the infield recapped his terrible night.

F. It was such a weak night for Gaby Sanchez.  Bob Robertson he was not. Perhaps Hurdle should have given Gaby a bunt sign just to try and recreate the great three homer night from Robertson back in the better days of Pirates playoff history.  . 1B. Pittsburgh Pirates. GABY SANCHEZ

F. The thought process that Snider was going to be able to hit Bumgarner was flawed and it showed.  Two at bats, two strikeouts against MadBum who continues to always pitch phenomenally well in the biggest of games.  . RF. Pittsburgh Pirates. TRAVIS SNIDER

RF. Pittsburgh Pirates. JOSE TABATA. F. The thought process that Tabata was going to be able to hit Bumgarner was flawed and it showed. Wait, we just said that…

F. How in the world does Brent Morel get an at-bat in the postseason for the Pittsburgh Pirates? Did he win a contest or something?. NoClue. Pittsburgh Pirates. BRENT MOREL

Future Pirates P. LEXUSCLUBKID. A+. The kid in the Lexus Club was the star of the show.  Check out the link below.. STAR