tony watson tagged posts

Pirates Fall Short In Finale With Giants

The Pittsburgh Pirates wrapped up a four-game series with the San Francisco Giants today and fell short in their bid for a series win.  Pittsburgh would get down in a hole, make a comeback, but fall short in a 4-3 loss to finish off this series with a split.  The Pirates needed this one today as they try to maintain pace in the NL Wild Card race.

The Buccos had the lead early when Elias Diaz hit an RBI double to left that scored Josh Bell.  San Francisco tied the game up in the third inning and took the lead for good when they scored two runs in the fourth.  An insurance run for the Giants in the sixth proved to be much needed after Starling Marte would drive in two runs on a double to right in the eighth inning.  Unfortunately for Pittsburgh that is as far as the rally would go.

Joe ...

August 12, 2018 Game Recaps & Reactions
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Pirates Win Fifth Straight, Beat Giants 6-5

After an extensive rain delay, the San Francisco Giants and Pittsburgh Pirates took the field at PNC Park for the second game of their three game weekend series.  While Friday’s game was a lopsided victory for Pittsburgh, tonight’s matchup was much more competitive.  It was a back and forth game throughout the evening, but the Pirates scored the winning run in the bottom of the eighth on a hit-by-pitch to beat the Giants 6-5 for their fifth straight win.

Chad Kuhl started for Pittsburgh tonight, battling his way through six innings of work.  He gave up three runs on six hits with six strikeouts and four walks.

The Pirates took the lead in the first inning.  After Gregory Polanco drew a walk and Starling Marte singled, Josh Bell hit a sacrifice fly to center field to score the game’...

May 13, 2018 Game Recaps & Reactions
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Polanco Shines In Defeat Of Brewers

It is officially that time of year where every series is the biggest of the season.  Technically that statement is true for the next four days.  The Pittsburgh Pirates opened the day seven games back of the Milwaukee Brewers going into their four-game series at PNC Park.  Pittsburgh would close that gap to six after a come from behind 4-2 victory tonight.

Chad Kuhl appears to be finding his way.  After a rough go of things during the better part of the first half of the season, he is starting to look like the pitcher he was last year.  He threw 5.2 innings allowing two runs on four hits, with three walks and a career high seven strikeouts.  Kuhl would even take out Milwaukee catcher Stephen Vogt on a collision at the plate in the fifth inning.

The Brewers collected their first run on...

July 18, 2017 Game Recaps & Reactions
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Frazier Walks It Off With RBI Single

If the Pittsburgh Pirates want to make a run at the 2017 postseason, they have to win series in the second half of the season.  Pittsburgh had a chance at that today after splitting the first two games of this three-game series with the St. Louis Cardinals.  It took all nine innings, but in the end, it would be the Pirates who came away with the game and the series at PNC Park.

The Buccos struck in the bottom of the first with an Andrew McCutchen RBI single to shallow center field.  Pittsburgh would hold that lead until the fifth when Matt Carpenter plated a run with a double to right.  Max Moroff would strike in the bottom half of the inning with a solo home run to right field.  St. Louis was not down for long, as a single by pitcher Carlos Martinez tied the game once again.

Trevor W...

July 16, 2017 Game Recaps & Reactions
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Bell Walks Off To Defeat Cardinals

The Pittsburgh Pirates returned to PNC Park tonight for their first game after the All-Star break.  There are many questions for this Pittsburgh team with the trade deadline approaching quickly.  They came into tonight seven games out of first and have been up and down all season.  With the St. Louis Cardinals in town for a three game series, this was a chance for the Pirates to gain some ground in the Central Division.

It looked like it would be a rough start from the early going for Gerrit Cole.  He would allow a two run homer to Jedd Gyorko in the first inning.  Cole settled down after that, finishing his night after six innings allowing two runs on four hits to go with four strikeouts and zero walks...

July 15, 2017 Game Recaps & Reactions
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Nova, Polanco Lead Pirates To Victory

The Pittsburgh Pirates and Chicago Cubs brought their division rivalry to the national stage tonight and the Pittsburgh fans came away happy.  Another solid pitching performance from Ivan Nova, plus a two-run home run from Gregory Polanco, sealed the deal on a 4-2 Pirates victory over Chicago.  It is always nice to see the “L” flag fly at Wrigley Field.

Nova has easily been the Pirates best pitcher in 2017 and he showed that once again tonight.  He would pitch 6.2 innings and allow two runs on three hits, to go along with six strikeouts and one walk.  Those two runs allowed came in the fourth inning when Ian Happ and Kyle Schwarber hit back to back solo home runs.  The Schwarber home run gave the Cubs their only lead of the night.

The Buccos struck first in the top half of the fou...

July 9, 2017 Game Recaps & Reactions
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Pirates Take Down Phillies 6-3

Winning on the road is never easy and the Pittsburgh Pirates have struggled away from PNC Park once again this year.  After dropping game one of this four-game series with the Philadelphia Phillies on Monday night, it looked like the start of another long road trip.  Things changed after a Pittsburgh win Tuesday night and the Pirates were able to carry that momentum into a three games to one series win, after a 6-3 victory tonight.

Philadelphia jumped on the board first tonight on a crazy play.  With a runner on first, Elias Diaz attempted a snap throw to first to pick the runner off.  Josh Bell wasn’t paying attention because the batters bat flew into the stands, so the ball went all the way to the right field wall and the Phillies took a 1-0 lead...

July 7, 2017 Game Recaps & Reactions
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McCutchen Leads Pirates Over Phillies

On a day where many had Old Glory raised across the country, for the first time in five days the Jolly Roger could also head up the flag pole.  The Pittsburgh Pirates were able to snap a four-game losing streak today with a 3-0 victory over the Philadelphia Phillies.  While the Pittsburgh offense didn’t exactly knock the cover off the ball, they did enough to go with stellar pitching from their starter and bullpen.

Jameson Taillon earned his fifth win of the season today while working five innings.  He would throw 102 pitches over those five innings and that shows he was working hard out on the mound.  Taillon would leave the game allowing four hits with nine strikeouts and two walks.  The Pirates bullpen picked it up from here.  Daniel Hudson struck out two during the sixth inning...

July 5, 2017 Game Recaps & Reactions
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Pirates Swept By Lowly Giants

The direction of the 2017 season for the Pittsburgh Pirates has been muddied at times because of the parity within the N.L. Central Division.  After being swept by the San Francisco Giants today, south is now the clear direction for the Pittsburgh franchise.  A 5-3 loss today sent the Pirates to their sixth straight home defeat to San Francisco and delivered the message that the Buccos will be sellers at the trade deadline.

Most fans already knew of this fate, but these three games should have cleared it up for everyone who follows this team.  Pittsburgh got a solid performance from Trevor Williams, but another bullpen implosion and lack of offense cost them once again.  Williams threw six innings, allowing two runs on three hits with three strikeouts and one walk...

July 2, 2017 Game Recaps & Reactions
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Giants Beat Bucs 2-1 In 11 Innings

It was a disastrous game on Friday night for the Pittsburgh Pirates, losing 13-5 to the San Francisco Giants, a team in with of the worst records in all of baseball.  Today, the Bucs turned their sites from a series sweep to a series victory, but unfortunately, they weren’t able to come away with either, as the Giants came up with a 2-1 win in 11 innings.

Chad Kuhl started for the Pirates and probably pitched his best game of the 2017 season, giving up one run on two hits in six innings.  The bullpen was solid for Pittsburgh as well, as Tony Watson, Juan Nicasio, and Felipe Rivero combined to pitch four scoreless innings in relief.  Daniel Hudson was tagged with the loss, giving up an unearned run in the 11th.

The Giants used a total of six pitchers tonight, including starter Matt Moo...

July 2, 2017 Game Recaps & Reactions
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