Pirates Rally Late But Fall Short In 5-4 Loss To Giants

Johnny Cueto had a smooth opening frame in his first start since 2018. The Giants opened with a single/double combo against Mitch Keller. A single chased them home after an out, and another knock followed, and yet another by Stephen Vogt to make it 3-0. A DP got him out of it, and it was due – three of the four Giant one-baggers were ground ball singles. Cueto cruised in the second. The G-Men banged another two-bagger but didn’t touch home. The Bucs got a Kevin Kramer rap and K-Man walk in the third, but no damage was done. The Giants added a two-out bloop to the hit column for their efforts. Nada went on for either club in the fourth. The Pirates were quiet in the fifth; the Bay City boys got a two-out rap and Vogt homer to turn the screws a little tighter at 5-0.

Kyle Barraclough got the sixth. K-Man walked between Tuck and B-Rey singles. But the Giants had the Bucs right where they wanted them, bases loaded and no outs. With Andrew Suarez on the hill, a pop out and 5-4-3 DP by the 3-4 hitters, Redbeard and J-Bell, ended it. Clay Holmes had a clean slate. Both sides went down in order in the seventh. Sam Coonrod worked the eighth and gave up two-out knocks to Newman and Reynoldo. Wandy Peralta came on, and Melky whacked a two-run double in greeting. J-Bell homered, and hey, it’s suddenly a game. Shaun Anderson took the ball and coaxed the last out. Frankie shut the door on the Giants. Jake drew a one-out walk off Anderson and Starling came on to run, but never got a chance as the last two Buccos fanned.

Another game that went to the end; it seems like the weak clubs have a way to keep it interesting against one another. Mitch padded his peripherals with seven whiffs and no walks, but couldn’t overcome a slow start out of the gate. Clay Holmes went two innings without a walk, so that was good too. But another bases-loaded, no out, no run situation ultimately cost the club again. After this set, nine-of-12 games are against the Cubs and Brewers; that will be a better measuring stick for the squad as the 2019 season winds down.

Notes:

• The top of the order did their job – Bryan Reynolds had two raps and Kevin Newman had a knock and a pair of walks.
• Kyle Crick is out for the rest of the year after undergoing surgery on right index finger. He screwed up the tendon in an altercation with Felipe Vazquez prior to Monday’s game. The Pirates are refusing comment, so speculate away.