The Pirates have had some incredible pitching in this homestand, but they couldn't muster up any of it today as the Cardinals scored 11 runs on just as many hits. The Pirates didn't help with their gloves, committing 2 more errors and a couple other sloppy plays that will go unnoticed in the box score.
Paul Maholm really didn't have much going for him today. He made it through 2 frames unscathed, and looked like he was going to get out of the 3rd inning with minimal damage of only 1 run after getting a huge strikeout of Pujols, but he walked the next batter and ended up surrendering 3 more runs that inning. After that he got tagged for 2 more runs before exiting the game after just 3.1 innings. Brian Bass then came on and gave up 5 more runs in his 2.1 innings of work, and the game was pretty much over right there. The bullpen shut the Cardinals out in the last 3 innings, but the offense could not get anything going most of the game.
The Pirates runs came on a Garrett Jones 2-run single in the 4th and a string of singles in the 9th. Even though they were meaningless runs, it was nice to see some of the guys in the lower half of the order getting hits in that last frame. Jeff Clement and Ronny Cedeno both helped raise their dismal averages by getting hits, they are now up to .177 and .238 respectively.
Today's loss means the Pirates dropped the series to the Cardinals and fall to 14-17. This is the kind of game that everyone expected in all 3 games of this series, but the Pirates played some good baseball in the first two games. The series of stupid mistakes led to the Pirates losing the first game of the series, a game they should have won easily, but they bounced back nicely and shut out the Cardinals Saturday night before getting dominated today. All-in-all taking 1 of 3 from the Cardinals isn't the worst thing in the world, they are a great ball club and there is definitely some positives to take out of the series. While we really should have had 2 of 3, I'm not complaining to much about only getting 1.
Tomorrow the Pirates host the Cincinnati Reds for the 2nd time this year in PNC Park, they swept them away the first time and will look to do the same Monday through Wednesday. Probable starters are as follows:
Bronson Arroyo (1-2, 6.14) vs. Ross Ohlendorf (0-0, 3.60)
Johnny Cueto (1-1, 5.18) vs. Charlie Morton (1-5, 10.30)
Homer Bailey (0-2, 7.24) vs. Zach Duke (2-3, 5.13)
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