Milwaukee Brewers 3, Pittsburgh Pirates 1: Stars And Stiffs

Sep 21, 2016; Milwaukee, WI, USA; Pittsburgh Pirates catcher Francisco Cervelli (29) tags out Milwaukee Brewers first baseman Chris Carter (33) to complete the strikeout during the third inning at Miller Park. Mandatory Credit: Jeff Hanisch-USA TODAY Sports
Sep 21, 2016; Milwaukee, WI, USA; Pittsburgh Pirates catcher Francisco Cervelli (29) tags out Milwaukee Brewers first baseman Chris Carter (33) to complete the strikeout during the third inning at Miller Park. Mandatory Credit: Jeff Hanisch-USA TODAY Sports /
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The Pittsburgh Pirates six game winning streak at Miller Park has come to an end due to a 3-1 defeat at the hand of the Milwaukee Brewers on Thursday night.

After winning six in a row at Miller Park, the Pirates have lost there. On Thursday night the Brewers defeated the Pirates by a score of 3-1. With the loss, the Pirates are now back to .500 on the season at 76-76.

The Pittsburgh Pirates got an ok start from Ryan Vogelsong and strong work from the bullpen. However, the Pirate offense did not do much on Thursday. Due to a lack of offense the Pirates came up just short of a three game sweep of the Brewers. Now, here are the Pittsburgh Pirates three stars and stiffs from Thursday night.

STARS

Center fielder Andrew McCutchen – The Pirates’ center fielder continues his strong finish to the season. On Thursday night McCutchen went 2-for-4 with a double. He was the only Pirate to finish Thursday night’s loss with multiple hits.

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It is great to see McCutchen finishing the season strong after struggling for much of 2016. I truly believe that Cutch will have a great bounce back season in 2017. I am sorry, Andrew, for ever doubting you.

Catcher Francisco Cervelli – The Pirates’ catcher is finally off the schneid. On Thursday night Francisco Cervelli hit his first home run of the season. He also made some strong defensive contributions.

Francisco Cervelli finished the night 1-for-3 at the plate. His one hit, of course, was a solo home run in the top of the sixth inning. Then in Cervelli’s final at bat he appeared to have his second home run of the game, but Brewer right fielder Domingo Santana made a leaping grab against the wall to rob Cervelli.

The Pirate backstop also threw out a base runner on Thursday night. In the bottom of the third inning Cervelli threw out Jonathan Villar when he was attempting to steal second base. This was the second time in as many days that Cervelli threw out the National League’s best base stealer.

Relief pitcher Wade LeBlanc – The good work of Wade LeBlanc as a member of the Pittsburgh Pirates continued on Thursday night. LeBlanc pitched the bottom of the eighth inning for the Pirates in this game. And he retired the Brewers in order on just nine pitched.

Wade LeBlanc has now pitched seven scoreless innings for the Pirates in the month of September. In these seven innings he has allowed just four hits, he has walked one batter, he has struck out five, and he has a WHIP of 0.71. To go along with an ERA of 0.00, LeBlanc owns a 2.20 FIP as a member of the Pittsburgh Pirates.

STIFFS

First baseman David Freese – On Thursday night David Freese got the start at first base for the Pirates. This is due to Brewer starting pitcher Chase Anderson‘s struggles against right-handed pitching. Well, maybe, the Pirates should have started Josh Bell.

David Freese finished Thursday’s game 0-for-3. His 0-for-3 effort included a pair of strikeouts. This just adds to want has been a rough five week stretch for Freese. David Freese also stranded a base runner in the loss.

Right fielder Gregory Polanco – Gregory Polanco’s overall numbers for 2016 are pretty strong. He has a career high 22 home runs, .335 wOBA, 111 wRC+, and 2.8 WAR. However, he has struggled immensely since the All-Star Break.

Polanco’s struggles continued in Thursday night’s loss. On Thursday night Gregory Polanco was 0-for-4 with a pair of strikeouts and he stranded three base runners. This included Polanco striking out in the top of the seventh inning when he represented the potential go-ahead run with Andrew McCutchen on second base.

Second baseman Adam Frazier – Originally, Adam Frazier was not in the Pittsburgh Pirates’ lineup on Thursday night. However, due to Jordy Mercer suffering from arm tightness before the game this change. And after the night he had Frazier may wish that this did not change.

Adam Frazier wound up batting lead off for the Pirates on Thursday night. Frazier would finish the game 0-for-4 with a strikeout. Adam Frazier is now stuck in an 0-for-11 skid, which is the worst such stretch of his early Major League career.

Next: Pirates Swing A Trade With The Yankees

That will do it for Thursday’s game. Despite the loss, the Pittsburgh Pirates finished their final true road trip of the season a strong 7-4. The Pirates will now come home to play three with the Nationals and four with the Cubs, before finishing the 2016 season with three games in St. Louis against the Cardinals.