Miami Marlins 3, Pittsburgh Pirates 1: Stars And Stiffs

The Pittsburgh Pirates were defeated by the Miami Marlins by a score of 3-1 in game two of their four game series on Tuesday night.

Tuesday night’s game at Marlins park between the Pittsburgh Pirates and Miami Marlins was a highly anticipated pitching match up that did not disappoint. The Pirates sent ace Gerrit Cole to the mound, while the Marlins called upon their ace Jose Fernandez. Both Cole and Fernandez would pitch strong games on Tuesday night.

Unfortunately for the Pittsburgh Pirates, Fernandez was the better pitcher of the two on Tuesday night. Despite a ninth inning rally from the potent Pirate offense, the Marlins were able to hang on for the victory. Now, here are the Pittsburgh Pirates three stars and stiffs from Tuesday night’s loss.

STARS

Second baseman Josh Harrison – On Tuesday night Josh Harrison had the best offensive night of any Pittsburgh Pirates hitter. The Bucco second baseman went 2-for-4 at the plate raising his batting average on the season to .329. This made Harrison the lone Pirate to collect multi-hits on Tuesday night.

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Harrison also made some great defensive plays, which comes as no surprise due to Harrison being one of the better defensive second basemen in the National League. In the top of the fifth inning Harrison made an excellent leaping catch to rob Marlin shortstop Adeiny Hechavarria of a base hit. Harrison would make a similar catch to retire Chris Johnson to end the sixth inning.

Starting pitcher Gerrit Cole – Gerrit Cole’s final pitching line looks a lot worse than he pitched on Tuesday night. Cole was charged with three runs on nine hits, two walks, and four strike outs in 6 1/3 innings pitched. However, Cole’s 2.79 FIP on the night shows he was better than this.

The Marlins struck for three runs in the seventh inning, and it could be argued that none of them were Cole’s fault. With Ichiro Suzuki on first base and one out, Marlin catcher J.T. Realmuto hit a sharp ground ball that clanked in and out of the glove of Jordy Mercer. Now, it would have been tough for the Pirates to turn a double play had Mercer fielded the ball. However, Mercer needed to field that ball and record at least one out there.

In the very next at bat, Cole had Marlin left fielder Christian Yelich struck out looking. However, home plate umpire Marvin Hudson forgot what a strike zone is and strike three was called ball two. Two pitches later, Yelich singled to right field to bring home the first Marlin run of the night.

Mercer failing to record an out on Ozuna’s ball hurt here as well. Because even if Yelich still singles, had Ichiro been retired at second as he should have been this base hit does not score a run. The second run surrendered by Cole scored via a wild pitch, even though it was a ball that hit Francisco Cervelli‘s glove and should have been ruled a passed ball.

Finally, the third run allowed by Cole came when he was already out of the game. Jared Hughes took over for Cole with runners on the corner and just one out. Marlin first baseman Justin Bour hit a ground ball to third baseman Jung Ho Kang. It was routine double play ball to end the inning, but since Josh Harrison was in an over-shift against the left-handed hitting Bour it took Harrison longer than usual to cover second base preventing the double play. As a result, the Marlins scored their third run.

Center fielder Andrew McCutchen – Andrew McCutchen went 1-for-4 with a walk at the plate on Tuesday night. Even though McCutchen had just one hit, he was the only Pittsburgh Pirates hitter other than Josh Harrison to reach base twice. For that reason, Cutch makes the good list tonight.

STIFFS

Third baseman Jung Ho Kang – Jung Ho Kang made some solid defensive plays on Tuesday night, but the Pittsburgh Pirates third baseman went 0-for-4 at the plate with a pair of strike outs. This including Jung Ho Kang striking out looking in the bottom of the ninth inning with the Pirates trailing 3-1, and having runners on the corners with no one out.

All Kang needed to do in the ninth inning was hit a fly ball and the Pirates would have pulled within one run of the Marlins. However, Kang struck out instead.

Catcher Francisco Cervelli – Francisco Cervelli will be very happy to see May end. Even though it was a great month for Cervelli off the field, having signed a three year contract extension, it was a miserable one on the field. The Bucco backstop hit just .190 this month, and capped it off with an 0-for-4 performance on Tuesday.

Furthermore, Cervelli made a poor defensive play on Tuesday night that proved costly. The Miami Marlins scored their second run of the game in the bottom of the seventh inning on a ‘wild pitch’ by Gerrit Cole. Even though it was ruled a wild pitch, this was a ball that hit Cervelli’s glove and should have been blocked from going to the backstop.

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That will do it for tonight. Tuesday night was a tough loss for the Pirates, but the beauty of baseball is they have the opportunity to bounce back tomorrow. Speaking of tomorrow, the Pittsburgh Pirates will send left-handed pitcher Jon Niese to the mound who is seeking his fifth consecutive strong start.

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