CHRISTOPHER PANSINO – OVATHLETICS.COM
The season cannot end any sooner for the Pirates. Their 100+ losses will not be missed after a long a forgettable season. More than anything the complete lack of firepower at the plate, a staple of this season, will not at all be missed.
The Pirates lost another close one, this time a 2-0 loss in which the Bucos left the offense in the clubhouse.
Charlie Morton struck out a career-high nine batters and limited Florida to two runs over six inning, but still ended up with the loss Saturday. The nine batters he struck out was also a the high water mark for Pirate starters this season. Last night marked Morton’s fifth consecutive decent start and he finished the season 2-12 with an ERA of 7.57.
Morton’s numbers however have improved greatly since being demoted the minor leagues after a 1-9 with a 9.35 ERA start. Since returning he went 1-3 with an ERA of 5.66.
The Pirates tied the 1985 team recorded with the loss. At 57-104 the Pirates are one loss away from having the worst record since 1952 team that went 42-112.
The Bucs fell behind 2-0 in the fourth inning after Mike Stanton hit a RBI single and Chad Tracy hit a sacrifice fly. Even so Morton limited the inning to just two runs.
In the ninth inning the Pirates had the potential of tying the game. However with two outs and two runners in scoring position, pinch hitter Ryan Doumit was caught looking on a curveball third strike.
The Pirates have lost 25 of 30 on the road, which comes as no surprise with a road record of 17-63. The road record ranks the in the top ten for all time worst in the modern era, which began in 1901.
