For the second consecutive night at PNC Park, the Pittsburgh Pirates had an opportunity to beat the San Francisco Giants. And, once again, they came up short. The Bucs lost to the Giants by a 3-1 score, dropping them to 10 games under .500 at 41-51.
Johan Oviedo started for Pittsburgh and was nothing short of magnificent. He gave up one run on one hit with three walks and ten strikeouts in his seven innings of work. Carmen Mlodzinski was tagged with the loss, giving up two runs (one earned) on one hit and a walk.
Alex Cobb started for the Giants, giving up one run on four hits in six innings. Taylor Rogers earned the victory (5-3), while Camilo Doval tallied his 28th save of the season.
The Giants scored the game’s first run in the op of the second inning on a solo homerun by Mike Yastrzemski. Pittsburgh tied the game in the bottom of the inning on a solo homerun by Henry Davis, his second of the season. Unfortunately for the Bucs, that would be their only run of the game.
The game remained tied until the top of the eighth, when the Giants cashed in against the Pirates’ bullpen. Michael Conforto singled to right field, scoring Casey Schmitt and Joc Pederson to make it 3-1.
The Pirates attempted to make things interesting in the bottom of the ninth. Tucupita Marcano singled to lead off the frame and advanced to second on a wild pitch. But despite putting a runner in scoring position and bringing the tying run to the plate with no outs, the Pirates couldn’t do anything with that opportunity and failed to score another run.
It was a stellar start from Oviedo tonight. He certainly pitched well enough to win the game, but unfortunately for him, the Buccos, and the fans, things didn’t turn out that way. It’s difficult to find positives when a team has been sliding as drastically as this team has, but Oviedo pitched very well tonight, which was a welcoming sign.
The Pirates will look to avoid the series sweep when they take the field on Sunday afternoon at PNC Park at a special 12:05pm start time. Osvaldo Bido will take the mound for Pittsburgh, while the Giants have yet to announce a starter.
Record vs. Giants: 2-3
Record vs. N.L. West: 14-13
Record at Home: 22-23
Overall Record: 41-51
And…
As Always…
Let’s Go Bucs!
