8-2-23 – By Craig W. Toth – @BucsBasement on Twitter
There were a stretch of games-even with the team wasn’t playing/hitting particularly well-that the Pirates seemed to have a knack for getting to a ball clubs ace. Today wasn’t one of those unexpected occasions.
Prior to the matinee from PNC-and especially up until around 6 PM last night-the certainty of Pittsburgh facing Detroit’s pitching leader in multiple statistical categories was slightly clouded by the trade rumors surrounding him.
In the end, Eduardo Rodriguez invoked his 10-team no trade clause; essentially squashing a potential deal with the Dodgers to keep him in a Tigers uniform for at least a few more months.
Then, as if nothing had happened, Rodriguez took the mound and pretty much did what he has done all year. I mean just look at his season long stats coming into this start.
2.95 ERA with a 1.03 WHIP across 88.1 innings and 15 starts.
Lasting 6 innings-and throwing 93 pitches-he gave up a couple of runs on 7 hits and one walk, while striking out 5 Pirates batters; Rodriguez earned his 7th win of the year.
For the home team, Osvaldo Bido is showing that he isn’t a realistic option for the starting rotation, as he got into some real trouble at the start of the fourth inning. Ultimately he gave up 1 run, but was charged with the other two after Ryan Borucki couldn’t stop the bleeding.
Sure the team showed some fight in the bottom of the ninth, only to have the game end in the most Piratey way possible. Ke’Bryan Hayes taking a called strike three-out of the zone-with the bases loaded.
News & Notes
- Cutch went 3 for 4 on the day with an RBI; ending a streak that began all the way back on June 30th in Milwaukee.
- Henry Davis is now 0 for 20 over his last five games after coming out of the All-Star Break swinging. He punched…now the league is punching back again.
- Maybe Bido can find a place in the bullpen, but for now the team needs innings. Although, the 3 IP looks more like a long relief appearance, rather than an actual start.
- De Los Santos was tasked with finishing out the game after surrendering a pinch hit homer to Jake Rogers in the top of the 8th.
- I was surprised to discover that Connor Joe batted .278 with a .783 OPS in extremely limited work during the month of July. Every team needs a reliable bench bat. He just can’t be the guy to lead off the game.
Following this quick-2 game-series split, your Pirates head to Milwaukee for a 4 game set with the Brewers; which starts tomorrow night.
For Pittsburgh Mitch Keller (9-7/3.94 ERA/1.21 WHIP) takes the bump against Adrian Houser (3-3/4.43 ERA/1.57 WHIP).
Steel City Pirates 