Pirates Making One Run Games A Depressing Habit

Aug 31, 2014; Pittsburgh, PA, USA; Pittsburgh Pirates center fielder Andrew McCutchen (L) and third baseman Josh Harrison (R) dance after Harrison hit a lead-off solo home run against the Cincinnati Reds during the first inning at PNC Park. Mandatory Credit: Charles LeClaire-USA TODAY Sports

Ten of the last sixteen games the Pittsburgh Pirates have played, have been one run games.  Today, the Pirates came from ahead against the St. Louis Cardinals to lose by, you guessed it, one run again.  The St. Louis Cardinals now sit atop the National League Central standings.

The painful part is that it seems like the team is just a player or two away from turning some of these games in their favor.  Take a look at the results starting with that dreadful series at Nationals Park.  You will notice that the Bucs have won just three of the ten run games they have played in the sixteen game stretch.

The Pirates won two games against the Reds by two runs and then lost when going for the sweep by one run.

The Pirates baseball club lost the opener against the Cardinals by a 2-1 score and then took the next two games by a total of five runs.

The ball club crushed the Brewers by 13 runs in the first two games and then lost when going for the sweep by one run.

The Bucs didn’t show up in the first two games against Atlanta.  The Braves crushed the Bucs, 7-3 and 11-3, and then the Pirates pulled out a dramatic one run win in the series finale.

In excruciating fashion, the ball club lost all three games in Washington DC by one run to the Nats.

Remember, the Pirates have just 27 wins on the road this season.  As you know, the next nine games are on the road.