Preview/Thoughts:
Something a little bit different tonight with a blog entry for just a single game but I am going to try to do this for these two games in Cincinnati and then bring back the series preview for the homestand next week. The method to my madness is that a series preview for a 2 game series is a waste and with the Pirates having lost 6 in a row, I am going to change it up and hope the Bucs can get a victory tonight.
Pitching Matchup:
Charlie Morton (4-1, 3.13 ERA) vs. Bronson Arroyo (3-3, 3.78 ERA)
Matchup: In a pitching rematch from early April, Charlie Morton goes against ex-Pirate Bronson Arroyo. It goes without saying that a repeat performance from Morton and the Pirates tonight would be exactly what the team needs after having lost 6 in a row. In his last outing against the Reds, Morton threw a complete game, while scattering 5 hits and giving up only 1 run on 110 pitches. The Pirates also collected 14 hits, 9 off of the starter Arroyo with Jose Tabata going 4 for 5 with a double and 3 singles while only scoring 1 of the Pirates 6 runs. Jones and Walker also homered in the game with both coming off of the starter Arroyo. The Pirates are obviously a different team right now than the one that went into Cincinnati and took 2 of 3 from the Reds in April. They have lost 6 in a row and really haven't been able to score runs or sustain any type of offense since they peaked at 18-17 a week ago. It is amazing how things completely change in a week. On May 9 the Pirates had just beaten the Dodgers to get above .500 for the first time this late in a season since the Reagan administration. Fans everywhere were abounding with joy and optimism. How quickly two bad losses at home against the Dodgers, a not so surprising sweep at the hands of the Brewers and a tough outing for Paul Maholm can change the way people look at a team and a season. At this point, optimism is no where to be found and many are wondering if the Pirates will even come close to sniffing .500 again this season. I'm not ready to give up on this team just yet but finishing the road trip without at least one win will go a long way in convincing me that .500 is a fantasy.
Prediction: I honestly think that the day off in Washington gave the Pirates time to think about where they want their season to go and how, as a team they plan to get there. I also think that the Charlie Morton that we have seen so far this year is the real Charlie Morton. He is still learning and growing as a sinkerball pitcher but I do believe that as he gets a better feel of his pitch location, he will walk less and strikeout more. Charlie "Electric Stuff" Morton is here to stay. Pirates win, 6-2.
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