Missed opportunities in extra innings really came back to haunt the Pirates tonight, as they dropped a 14-inning affair in Cincinnati by a score of 4-3.
Wandy Rodriguez had a very solid start for the Pirates tonight. He was charged with three runs allowed, despite only one of them coming when he was in the game. He pitched 6.2 innings, struck out five, and was pulled after 89 pitches. He left the game with two runners on and Jared Hughes allowed a two run double to Dioner Navarro which tied the game at 3-3. Hughes finished the night with 1.1 innings pitched. Tony Watson threw a scoreless ninth and Chris Resop worked some magic in the tenth after loading the bases with one out. He was able to get a ground out from Ryan Ludwick and a strikeout from Jay Bruce to send the game to the eleventh. Joel Hanrahan put men on the corners with one out, and worked his way out of it. After striking out Devin Mesoraco, he got Brandon Phillips to line out to right field, a play Jose Tabata made a fantastic game saving catch on. Chris Leroux did a fantastic job in his two innings of work. He only allowed one hit and looked pretty solid. Rick van den Hurk, who was called up less than 24 hours ago, made his Pirates debut and allowed the Reds to walk off. After a wild pitch put two men in scoring position, Chase d’Arnaud could not field a Ryan Ludwick ground ball which lead to a Reds victory.
Andrew McCutchen hit his second home run in as many days to open up the scoring in the fourth. Rod Barajas contributed an RBI single, and Wandy Rodriguez drove in a run on a groundout. Travis Snider had a chance to give the Pirates the lead in the ninth but struck out and Michael McKenry had a chance of giving the Pirates the lead in the tenth, but grounded out. The Pirates did not record a hit from the ninth to fourteenth inning and blew the best opportunity we have seen in a while. After a Brock Holt double, Eric Fryer walk, and Andrew McCutchen infield hit, the Pirates could not score a run with the bases loaded and nobody out. Chase d’Arnaud flew out to shallow center, Pedro Alvarez grounded into a force, and Jose Tabata grounded out to first.
A loss like this is always deflating. Having to go through every bench player you have and six bullpen pitchers is never a good sight either. Kevin Correia will start against the Reds tomorrow night.
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