As sloppy as yesterday’s ballgame was, that’s how tight this contest was played. Joe Musgrove and Tyler Anderson started out for the second lopsided on paper matchup in as many days.
Yesterday Chad Kuhl and Blake Snell traded brutal outings and neither club recovered from the feeling of disarray. Tonight both starters laid the framework for tightened up and professional looking ball.
Tyler Anderson went 5.1 with a couple of walks and two very well timed stikeouts surrendering only one earned run.
Joe Musgrove only lasted 4 innings surrendering one run on Gregory Polanco solo shot over the Clemente Wall. The Pirates set out to continue to be a pesky team at the plate forcing Joe’s pitch count out of control and ultimately stunting his outing.
In the third game of the series the Pirates have put the Padres in a situation where they can ill afford to get into the pen early again tomorrow in the series finale.
News & Notes
- I’m picturing Derek Shelton and Ben Cherington with one of those giant dice from the Price is Right covered in the names Fowler and Alford to decide who goes. If they’re going to keep Difo the lefty – righty thing hardly matters and the way both of them look at the plate it’s hard to say either deserve much more time. Maybe they can erase a couple of the Fowler blocks after his 1 out single in the 8th.
- Gregory Polanco 2 for 2 with 2 walks and a home run tonight. Not much to dislike from what he did tonight, he actually looked very in tune at the plate. Nice to see a guy sit for a couple days and respond. Yes I know he stinks, he doesn’t matter, just let him have a night ok.
- Duane Underwood allowed his inherited runner to score when he came in to replace Tyler Anderson but he shut the door after that completing 1.2 innings of work with 3 strikeouts. Really nice outing from Underwood Jr, with leverage on his plate.
- The Pirates turned to Sam Howard in the 8th, clearly back end of the pen roles have not been defined, it’s like a carousel thus far. We’ve seen just about everyone get a crack at almost every position in the pen with the exception of closing out a game, which of course has gone to Richard Rodriguez. Howard would deliver a 1-2-3 8th.
- The Padres are a good baseball team, but without Tatis it’s hard to see just how good. Compared to the Dodgers, it’s hard to imagine they don’t fall short, I think they need an outfield bat and maybe a second baseman. And no, I don’t think Frazier is the answer.
- The wooers at PNC are the only thing I didn’t miss from having no fans in the stands.
- Because Shelton was reading my notes before the game was over he double crossed me and went to Stratton for the save in the 9th.
- Adam Frazier posts a 3 hit game none bigger than his 2 run single in the 8th.
- Phillip Evans looked human tonight. 0 for 4 with a walk and 2 K’s. Nothing to be alarmed over, he didn’t have many non competitive at bats.
- The Pirates have opened the home schedule 4-2 with an overall record of 5-7 on the young season. This isn’t the same as being a couple games under .500 in July, but for a team many predicted to lose 120 games, I’d say it’s a fair showing. I’ve said it all along, bad, not historically bad.
- The win tonight guarantees no worse than a series split against the Padres but the Bucs go for the series win tomorrow afternoon.
Inside The Bucs Basement 