mark melancon tagged posts

Sloppy Bucs Fall To Nationals 6-1

After last night’s come from behind victory against Mark Melancon and the Washington Nationals, the Pittsburgh Pirates entered tonight’s game in need of yet another victory in order to attempt to keep pace in the National League Wild Card race.  Unfortunately, the Bucs showed up flat tonight on the mound, in the field, and at plate, and the Nationals took advantage in a 6-1 victory.

With the victory, coupled with a loss by the New York Mets, the Nationals clinched the National League East title.  By contrast, with the loss, the Pirates took another blow to their depleting playoff chances.

For the second straight start, Ivan Nova struggled on the mound for the Pirates.  He lasted just four innings, giving up six runs (three earned) on eight hits...

September 25, 2016 Game Recaps & Reactions
Read More

Pirates Rally Late, Beat Nationals In Extra Innings

After a successful road trip, the Pittsburgh Pirates returned to PNC Park for their final home stand of the 2016 regular season, beginning tonight with the first of a three game series against the Washington Nationals.  Tonight, these two teams traded punches back and forth and exchanged runs throughout, and the Pirates came up with a pair of huge hits, one in the ninth and one in the eleventh, to beat the Nationals 6-5.

Neither starter was at his best tonight.  Jameson Taillon lasted five innings, giving up three runs on six hits, while Gio Gonzalez pitched five innings for Washington, giving up three runs on five hits and three walks.  It was a long game, with a lot of substitutions and pitching changes...

September 24, 2016 Game Recaps & Reactions
Read More

Pirates Still Can’t Figure Out Brewers

The big news to come from the Pittsburgh Pirates today was their trading of Mark Melancon to the Washington Nationals for Felipe Rivero and Taylor Hearn.  The trade was not an immediate favorite of the fan base, but could pay out for Pittsburgh over the next few years.  Some view the trade as the Pirates giving up on the 2016 season, while others see it as getting something in return for a player on the verge of free agency.

There was a game to be played tonight, and the result was what we have come to expect against the Milwaukee Brewers at Miller Park.  The Buccos could not figure out Chase Anderson and his 5+ ERA, while Milwaukee used the long ball to pick up a 5-3 victory tonight...

July 31, 2016 Game Recaps & Reactions
Read More

Pirates Take Down Phillies For Series Win

It is no secret that there is a love hate relationship between the two major cities in the keyston state.  That rivalry boils over the most when their respective professional sports teams square off against one another.  Today saw the Pittsburgh Pirates and Philadelphia Phillies wrap up a three game series, with Pittsburgh sending Philadelphia down the turnpike with a 5-4 defeat.

The Phillies led early once again today, when Andres Blanco hit a 400ft home run to deep right center field.  The Pirates took the lead in the bottom of the second with two runs of their own.  Elias Diaz, making his first Major League start, grounded out to third, which allowed Starling Marte to score to tie the game.  Sean Rodriguez then blasted a double to center to plate the second run of the inning.

Phila...

July 24, 2016 Game Recaps & Reactions
Read More

Five-Run Fifth Lifts Pirates to 7-4 Victory

After losing last night’s game to the Philadelphia Phillies in the first game of this weekend series, the Pittsburgh Pirates turned to Tyler Glasnow to right the ship against their cross state rivals.  And while Glasnow certainly didn’t put forth the performance we were hoping for, the Pirates broke out the bats on their way to a 7-4 victory this afternoon at PNC Park.

Glasnow struggled with control and a little bad luck, lasting only three innings while giving up two runs (one earned) on four hits with three walks.  Juan Nicasio, who pitched two innings of relief, earned the victory this afternoon (8-6), while Mark Melancon earned his 29th save with an easy one-two-three inning in the ninth...

July 24, 2016 Game Recaps & Reactions
Read More

Liriano, Joyce Lead Pirates Over Brewers

After last night’s terrible performance by Jeff Locke in a 9-5 loss to the Milwaukee Brewers, the Pittsburgh Pirates desperately needed a strong showing from their starting pitcher.  Tonight, Francisco Liriano did just that, putting forth one of his best starts of the season, as the Pirates beat the Brewers 5-3 in the rubber match of this three game series at PNC Park.

Liriano improved to 6-9 on the season, giving up three runs (two earned) on four hits with 13 strikeouts and zero walks in 6.2 innings.  Neftali Feliz got the final out in the seventh, Tony Watson pitched a scoreless eighth, and Mark Melancon earned his 28th save of the season with an easy ninth.

The Pirates got on the board early against Milwaukee starter Matt Garza.  Gregory Polanco and Andrew McCutchen drew one-out w...

July 22, 2016 Game Recaps & Reactions
Read More

Pirates Pitching Flounders In Loss To Brewers

The Pittsburgh Pirates are at a fork in the road in regards to the 2016 season.  They can either contend for a playoff spot, most likely the Wild Card, or begin preparations for 2017.  Personally I think they are geared more towards making a run at 2017.  Their pitching rotation is not that good, and even with the talent at AAA, it is unreal to think those young arms are ready to pitch deep into October.

Tonight was an example of the woes that has plagued them all season.  Jeff Locke was unreliable, going three innings allowing five runs on seven hits, while walking and striking out five batters.  The bullpen wasn’t much better.  Jared Hughes pitched a scoreless fourth, but that was followed up by A.J. Schugel getting tagged for three runs on three hits with two walks and a strikeo...

July 21, 2016 Game Recaps & Reactions
Read More

Harrison Walks Off, Pirates Beat Brewers 3-2

As the Pittsburgh Pirates enter the final two and half months of the 2016 season, they have a lot of ground to make up, not only in the division race but also in the hunt for the N.L. wild card.  And in order to make another playoff run this season, the Pirates need to beat inferior teams, such as the Milwaukee Brewers.  Tonight, despite a blown save, the Pirates found a way to win behind the heroic effort of Josh Harrison and Jameson Taillon.

Today was exciting day for Pittsburgh fans, as the Bucs welcomed back Gregory Polanco and Francisco Cervelli to the lineup.  However, it was almost a disastrous evening for Taillon.   In the top of the second inning, the Bucs’ right hander took a line drive to the back of his head...

July 20, 2016 Game Recaps & Reactions
Read More

Pirates Take Down Nationals In 18th Inning

The Pittsburgh Pirates came in to today’s series finale with the Washington Nationals on a three game losing streak and were on the verge of being swept in their first series past the All-Star break.  They would be facing Max Scherzer, who no hit them last year, and had an offense that had totaled only one run the past two nights.  In order to pull out a win, it looked like pitching would be their key to victory.

Chad Kuhl took the mound for Pittsburgh, and he had been roughed up in his last start.  He would pitch a gem this afternoon and was well deserving of a win that he just missed out on.  His day was finished after six innings that saw him give up one hit to go along with five strikeouts.

Scherzer was almost as good during his seven innings of work...

July 17, 2016 Game Recaps & Reactions
Read More

Pirates Offense Jumps On Cubs Mistakes

At this point in time the Pittsburgh Pirates and Chicago Cubs appear to have reversed roles from where the two teams were a few weeks ago.  Pittsburgh looks to be playing their best baseball with come from behind victories for much of the past week, while Chicago has finally come back down to earth after a red hot start to their season.

Jake Arrieta started for the Cubs tonight, and looked nothing like the Arrieta that Pirates fans have come to hate.  His numbers weren’t bad by average pitcher standards, but for him it was well below his standard.  The Buccos would hit two home runs off him in the second inning, with the first being a solo shot by David Freese, and the second one a two run shot by Sean Rodriguez.

Chicago would slowly, but surely, mount a comeback...

July 9, 2016 Game Recaps & Reactions
Read More