Brewers Drop Pirates, Cue Edinson Volquez Happy Music

We have Volquez fever

The Milwaukee Brewers are the hottest team in Major League Baseball after grabbing the second game of the series against the Pittsburgh Pirates last night.  Cue the Brewers happy music.

But perhaps there is something to pick out of this dreadful loss.  The Pirates fifth starter is looking solid.  Yeh, we have Volquez Fever.  The right-hander didn’t get the victory despite allowing only one earned run–a solo homer on the second pitch of the game.

Of course what hampered his effort was the poor defensive effort of his teammates.  Volquez didn’t get the best from the defense playing behind him as Pedro Alvarez and Andrew McCutchen committed errors that might have had an impact on the outcome.

Other poor decisions included an odd play that left Pirates fans shaking their heads.  With Buccos on the corners and one out, Andrew McCutchen popped up to Brewers catcher Jonathan Lucroy.  After making the catch, Travis Snider tagged from first base and ran toward second base.  Lucroy immediately looked back Starling Marte who was standing on the third base bag and then Lucroy fired to second base.

The throw was well ahead of Snider and at that moment Marte broke for home.  (We aren’t lying)  The Pirates speedy left fielder was gunned down at the plate.  The Pirates had blown a golden opportunity to go ahead in the 2-2 game.

Pedro Alvarez was in the on deck circle, but had to go grab his glove as Pirates skipper Clint Hurdle spoke with the home plate umpire.  Nothing happened.  Mark Melancon took the hill with the game tied.

It wasn’t tied for long as the Brewers showed a solid approach at the plate, taking Melancon to right field for a couple hits and eventually the red hot Brew Crew plated the winning run.

Alvarez walked in the ninth inning, but was replaced with pinch runner Josh Harrison.  Why?  We have NO idea.

Harrison was erased by another Russell Martin double play ball.  The play at first pulled Mark Reynolds off the bag, but the replay showed his foot stayed on the base just enough to get Martin.  Neil Walker grounded out to end the game.

The Brewers have the best record in baseball.

The Pirates haven’t been playing their best baseball.  First Jameson Taillon had Tommy John, now Luis Heredia leaves a start with shoulder discomfort.

But the good news?  Gregory Polanco is close.  The Pirates just might have the comeback player of the year–well at least through his first three outings anyway.

Its going to be interesting to see how this plays out in 2014.  We need some Volquez Happy Music.

We have Volquez fever