The Pittsburgh Pirates had every opportunity to grab a series win against the St. Louis Cardinals, but failed to deliver when it mattered most.  The team didn’t have timely hitting as Andrew McCutchen continues to struggle with teammates in scoring position.  Starting pitcher Erik Bedard couldn’t get Yadier Molina out, nor could most Buccos pitchers as Molina had three hits and two RBI to lead the Cardinals to a big 5-4 win Saturday.

St. Louis pulled within a game of Pittsburgh for the second NL wild-card spot.

The Pirates had numerous opportunities, but none was bigger than when the Bucs loaded the bases with no outs in the ninth against Jason Motte.  Unfortunately, only one run was pushed across the plate and that came on Andrew McCutchen’s infield out.  The white hot Garrett Jones worked a 3-0 count, but let his bat fly and would whiff.

“He’s your cleanup hitter and arguably as hot as anyone we have on the team,” Hurdle said.

Somehow Josh Harrison is still on the big league club, and bounced out to set the final.

“We’re going to play the game to win it. We’re not going to be afraid to make a mistake or play on our heels.”

We don’t agree with Hurdle’s statement.  Playing the game to win it means having the most talented players in the right situation to succeed.  If the Texas Rangers can pull Roy Oswalt after 4.2 innings, it would make perfect sense to do the same with Bedard.  Even with the Pirates having the pitcher spot coming up fourth the next inning.

The Bucs went 1-for-14 with runners in scoring position.  The club struck out 14 times.  One bright spot was Jordy Mercer went 2 for 4 and drove in two, but had to leave the game after being hit in the hand in the ninth inning.

Starling Marte also left the game and it appeared to be an oblique injury of some kind.  Marte bunted for a base hit, perhaps because he was unable to swing the bat.  Thus, the already short Pirates bench may need bolstering today as Jaime Garcia is expected to come off the disabled list to start today’s series finale against Pirates right-hander Jeff Karstens.

Chad Qualls was placed on the bereavement list with a family illness.  Yamaico Navarro was called up from Indianapolis where, as we wrote about yesterday, he was performaing well.  Navarro played left field for the Triple-A Indians last night.   Jeff Locke was sent to AAA and Jared Hughes was recalled.

The Pirates announced their lineup a few minutes ago on Twitter.

The Pittsburgh Pirates lineup.

Jordy Mercer is in the number two spot in the lineup. So looking at the starting infielders batting averages against right handers like the team will face today in Joe Blanton the numbers are less than appealing: Gaby Sanchez is hitting 250, Pedro Alvarez checks in with a 243 average and 18 homers off righties, Barmes is actually hitting 201 that is not a misprint–he has five bombs against righties, and Jordy Mercer is hitting just 179 in limited action.

Looking deeper the overall OPS for the infield checks in like this: Pedro with a .752, Gaby Sanchez has a .687, Mercer just a .594, and the big blow is Barmes with a paltry .555 OPS.

One good thing to consider is the offensive production from the infield is due for a progression. It’s hard to see it getting much worse.

Godspeeed Neil Walker.

Pittsburgh Pirates manager Clint Hurdle (13) in the dugout: Joy R. Absalon-US PRESSWIRE

The Pittsburgh Pirates moved Alex Presley to Triple-A Indianapolis to make room for left hander Jeff Locke.  Pittsburgh Pirates skipper Clint Hurdle explained the move as we furiously drove back into radio range last night.  The explanation was interesting to us.

Hurdle explained that if Jordy Mercer was sent down, that makes Josh Harrison the backup shortstop.  It would limit the ability for Harrison to be moved around the baseball diamond as the Bucs super utility player.

The Pirates bullpen was depleted.  Jason Grilli wasn’t going to go.  Hurdle muttered that Joel Hanrahan wouldn’t be used unless the team had a save situation, so the bullpen was light.  Chris Resop, Tony Watson, Chad Qualls….that was about all the Bucs had last night.

They needed every arm they had, but Locke didn’t see the field.  It will be interesting to see if he can see some action this afternoon.

But the exciting part of the night for us was after all of this Harrison talk, Jordy Mercer goes out and crushes his first homer of the season as Clint Barmes and Harrison watched from the dugout.  Think Mercer is in the lineup tomorrow?  Stop laughing.

Clint Hurdle described it best after the game.

“We were probably longer on guts tonight than we were execution.”  Clint Hurdle

The Pirates need some more help on the bench.  We don’t think the Bucs are done in that regard, but it’s just so damn frustrating watching the pinch hitting options that Hurdle has to select from on a nightly basis.