Pittsburgh Pirates series review vs. Reds

Mandatory Credit: Charles LeClaire-USA TODAY Sports

The Pittsburgh Pirates were officially eliminated from NL Central contention with their series loss to the St. Louis Cardinals. The goal of avoiding the one game playoff was lost, but there was still work to be done entering the final series of the regular season.

The Cubs are on an unreal winning streak, so the Pirates needed to win the series to clinch home field for the NL Wildcard game. Against a struggling Reds team, it should be fairly easy but the Reds have given the Pirates a ton of fits in 2015, which is completely mind boggling, but that’s baseball. The only thing the Pirates needed to do was win the series, nothing more, nothing less.

They sent their filthy left hander to the mound for game one, looking to kick things off the right way.

Next: Game One: Liriano vs. Sampson

Mandatory Credit: Charles LeClaire-USA TODAY Sports

Game One: Francisco Liriano (12-7, 3.27ERA) vs. Keyvius Sampson (2-6, 6.46ERA)

Result: Pirates win 6-4 (12 innings)

Winning Pitcher: Arquimedes Caminero (5-1, 3.67ERA)

Losing Pitcher: Collin Balester (1-1, 7.47ERA)

• What went right:
  • The bullpen was absolutely outstanding. Jared Hughes, Joakim Soria, Tony Watson, Mark Melancon, Antonio Bastardo and Arquimedes Caminero completely shut down the Reds’ offense from the fifth inning onward.
  • Starling Marte played the role of hero again as he knocked in his 20^th game winning RBI of the season on a walk-off two-run home run. He went 2-6 and also had two runs scored.
  • Andrew McCutchen busted out of his mini funk, going 3-5 with an RBI and two runs scored.
  • Noted Pirate-killer, Todd Frazier had a very poor game, going 0-6 with three strikeouts.

• What went wrong:
  • Francisco Liriano did not have his best stuff and really struggled all night. He did battle and keep the team in the game, but against a very poor Reds team, that isn’t enough. He ended up going five innings, allowing four runs on seven hits.
  • Eugenio Suarez had a pretty impressive night, going 2-6 with a home run, three RBI and a run scored.
  • Pedro Alvarez and Francisco Cervelli both committed errors.
  • Pirates went 1-8 with runners in scoring position.

The Pirates did not play their best game by any means, but this time of year, wins are all that matter and despite falling behind early, the Pirates superior talent won out in the end. Coming back from 4-0 down against any Big League team is impressive, even one that has lost 13 games in a row.

The Pirates looked to lock up home field in the Wildcard game by sending Batman out for the final regular season start of his career.

Next: Game Two: Burnett vs. Finnegan

Mandatory Credit: Charles LeClaire-USA TODAY Sports

Game Two: A.J. Burnett (9-6, 3.15ERA) vs. Brandon Finnegan (1-2, 5.09ERA)

Result: Pirates lose 3-1

Winning Pitcher: Brandon Finnegan (2-2, 4.18ERA)

Losing Pitcher: A.J. Burnett (9-7, 3.18ERA)

Save: Aroldis Chapman (33, 1.63ERA)

• What went right:
  • Josh Harrison had two hits from the lead-off spot. He went 2-3 with a walk and a run scored.
  • Gregory Polanco went 1-3 and had the lone Pirates’ RBI.
  • Starling Marte went 1-3.
  • A.J. Burnett was terrific in his final regular season start. He overcame a rough first inning and pitched into the seventh. Overall he went 6.2 innings, allowed three runs on five hits and struck out nine. He left to a loud ovation and did a curtain call to the roar of the appreciative crowd. It was an awesome moment and Burnett deserved every second of it.

• What went wrong:
  • The Pirates could not figure out Brandon Finnegan. After scoring in the first inning, he completely shut them down. He went six innings, allowed one run on three hits and struck out six.
  • Andrew McCutchen went 0-4 with two strikeouts and looked very bad against Finnegan’s cut fastball.
  • Brandon Phillips had his usual solid game against the Pirates. He went 2-3 with a run scored.
  • A.J. Burnett committed a throwing error on a pick-off attempt, which set up the game’s first run.

The Pirates did not play well at all and because of the Cubs victory, they went into game 162 still needing a victory to clinch home field in the Wildcard game. For the second year in a row, all 162 games meant something for the Pirates. They needed a win in the final game to make home field HAPPen.

Next: Game Three: Happ vs. Smith

Mandatory Credit: Charles LeClaire-USA TODAY Sports

Game Three: J.A. Happ (6-2, 2.04ERA) vs. Josh Smith (0-3, 7.22ERA)

Result: Pirates win 4-0

Winning Pitcher: J.A. Happ (7-2, 1.85ERA)

Losing Pitcher: Josh Smith (0-3, 6.89ERA)

• What went right:
  • J.A. Happ was outstanding when he needed to be. His stellar pitching helped lead the Pirates and guaranteed us another PNC Park Blackout. He went six innings, allowed zero runs on three hits and struck out seven.
  • Josh Harrison was fantastic and is making it very difficult to leave him out of the Wildcard game lineup. He went 3-4 with an RBI and a run scored. He’s hitting .400/.429/.650/1.079 over his last seven games.
  • Jordy Merer also played well. Made some solid defensive plays and went 2-4with an RBI.
  • The bullpen was shutdown again as Joakim Soria, Tony Watson and Mark Melancon shut the door to clinch homefield in the Wildcard game.

• What went wrong:
  • Todd Frazier reached base three times as he went 2-3 with a walk.
  • Neil Walker was weirdly caught stealing on what looked like a botched delayed steal attempt.
  • Andrew McCutchen went 0-4 with two strikeouts for the second game in a row.
  • Joey Votto reached base twice, going 1-3 with a walk.

Next: Final Takeaways