CHRISTOPHER PANSINO – OVATHLETICS.COM
The Pirates lost their 11th straight game yesterday with a 5-4 loss to the White Sox. The loss yesterday marked the third consecutive sweep the Pirates have endured since their last win on June 5th.
Olhendorf, now 0-5, pitched up a stinker allowing nine hits and five earned runs in 6 and 1/3 innings. While Olhendorf should take the brunt of the blame, the Pirates fielding continue to struggle.
While there were no charged errors in this game there easily could have been one in the third inning. The mistake by first baseman Garrett Jones could have put a have put an early dent on the inning. Instead the White Sox rallied scoring two runs.
Pirates struggled to put runs together for most of the game. However, in the eight innings the Pirates put together a rally that nearly won them the ball game. Down 5-1 in the bottom of the eighth Andrew LaRoche pinched hit double.
Then after loading the bases Andrew McCutchen hit an RBI single to score LaRoche.
With the bases again loaded, Garrett Jones nearly hit a grand slam, but was a few feet short and went down with a sacrifice fly.
Lasting Millage would also add a run with a hard hit single to the right to make the score 5-4.
But the inning would end here with Pedro Alvarez striking out to end the inning. Pedro Alvarez had a much better day fielding, but remains hitless since coming up to the majors. He went 0 for 4 today including three strikeouts.
But the Sox brought in their closer Bobby Jenks in the ninth and he shut down the Pirates in order ending any thoughts of a comeback.
Pirates continue their interleague homestand with the Cleveland Indians this weekend.
