Pittsburgh Pirates Squander Opportunity to Sweep Four-Game Series

Pirate offense wastes too many scoring opportunities

Failing to bet the big hit has been a major issue for the Pirates all season. In the final two games of the series this trend continued. While, yes, there were some clutch hits for their late/extra inning rallies, they often times left runs of the field.

In game three Michael Chavis doubled to tie the game in the 9th inning. This gave the Pirates runners on second and third with no one out, they failed to score again. Ke’Bryan Hayes had a big two-out hit in the 10th inning to make their lead grow from 3-2 to 4-2, but Jake Marisnick was thrown out by a mile trying to score on the play. Marisnick never should have been sent.

Game four saw the Pirates get runners on the corners with no one out in 7th inning. Well… Daniel Vogelbach struck out looking on a pitch that was prime to drive, Oneil Cruz was caught stealing second, and Marisnick inexplicably starting to slowing walk toward home after Kevin Newman drew a two-out walk, only to get thrown out to end the inning.

A one-put triple by Hayes in the 1st inning was stranded, as was a one-out 4th inning double by Diego Castillo. After Cruz drew a one-out walk in the 9th inning, he was once again caught stealing. Ben Gamel hit a go-ahead one-out double in the 10th inning, Marisnick was then intentionally walked but both runners were left on base.

Across the final two games of the series Pirate batters went just 6-for-26 with runners in scoring position. This led to them leaving 18 runners on base across these two games. Even with the bullpen blowing saves in both of these games, with one or two more hits with RISP, odds are, the Pirates would have either won the series or swept it.

The Pittsburgh Pirates have no one to blame but themselves for not at least winning, if not sweeping their four-game series in Miami. The final two games of the series saw the Pirates lose the games more than the Marlins win them. To call it frustrating would be sugarcoating things.