Paul Maholm was brilliant once again, going 7 innings and giving up just 2 earned runs, but taking his 9th loss of the year. Just unfair.
I'm not going to recap the game anymore than that, I want to look at how these Pirates have performed in 3 semi-overlapping categories this year: one-run games (games that are decided by 1 run), low scoring games (games with less than 6 total runs scored), and games when they hold the opponent under 4 runs. Here's the data (click for a larger image):
There have been quite a few "low scoring games", which isn't surprising knowing this team. They are 11-11 in games when less than 6 total runs are scored, you would probably want that win total to be higher since this team is for sure going to have a losing record in high-scoring games at seasons end, and then let the middle ground go either way.
Their record in games when they allow less than 4 runs looks very good, but you would expect that number to be similar for any team. Paul Maholm has started 9 games in which the opponents didn't score more than 3 runs, and the Pirates are 5-4 in those games when you would expect them to be more like 7-2, or at least 6-3. Paul has certainly been the bearer of much bad luck this year and is now tied for 2nd in all of baseball in losses (Fausto Carmona paces the group with 10).
Scoring runs has been a major issue for these 2011 Pittsburgh Pirates, and it seems like every time we see signs of them improving, they get shut-out and look awful for a series of games. Let's hope that's not the case this time and last night was just a matter of Brandon Morrow being as dominant as it stuff shows that he can be.
It'll be a good test tomorrow to see if this team can win another road series and head to DC 2 games above .500, it's Jeff Karstens vs. Brett Cecil at 7:07. Canada is weird. Let's Go Bucs!