The Cleveland Guardians snapped their four-game losing streak with an 11-0 victory over the Pittsburgh Pirates at PNC Park on Monday night.
Despite what has turned into a disastrous season for the Pirates, there was some anticipation and even a little excitement leading up to Monday’s game for the home team, which called up players from the minor leagues who hope to be pieces of the club’s future.
Quinn Priester made his MLB debut on the mound for Pittsburgh. After pitching three perfect innings to begin the game, he ran into trouble in the fourth and fifth innings before things fell apart in the sixth. All in all, he gave up seven runs on seven hits with two walks and two strikeouts in 5.1 innings.
The other two callups, Endy Rodriguez and Liover Peguero, started at catcher and shortstop respectively. Unfortunately, both players struggled at the plate, going a combined 0-7 with five strikeouts.
As a team, the Pirates managed just four hits while striking out a total of 12 times. Andrew McCutchen, Carlos Santana, Nick Gonzalez, and Jared Triolo each had a hit, rounding out the “offensive output” for the Bucs on this night.
Cleveland, on the other hand, despite a mediocre record, is very much in the hunt for the A.L. Central title at this point in the season. They ended their four-game skid with an offensive coming out party at the expense of the Buccos’ pitching.
Josh Naylor had three RBIs and Amed Rosario and Andres Gimenez had two RBIs each, making what was a competitive game at the midway point turn into a blowout by the end. It was a “pitch by committee” effort on the mound for Cleveland, which used a total of six pitchers to hold the Pirates’ bats in check throughout the evening.
This was obviously not the debut that Priester, Rodriguez, or Peguero would have hoped for, as well as the Pirates’ organization and fan base. There isn’t much to be opitimistic about at this point, although this disappointing result is just one game. As the days, weeks, and months continue, we, as fans, hope to see some positive results on the mound, in the field, and at the plate from the team’s young players who hopefully will become core members in the near future.
The Pirates will look to end this horrendous post-All Star break stretch on Tuesday night by handing the ball to their best pitcher, Mitch Keller. The Guardians will send Logan Allen to the bump. First pitch is scheduled for 7:05pm.
Record vs. Guardians: 0-1
Record vs. American League: 11-19
Record at Home: 22-25
Overall Record: 41-53
And…
As Always…
Let’s Go Bucs!
