Cardinals 3, Pirates 2, 14 innings

Pirates Lineup:
1. Gregory Polanco (L) RF
2. Josh Harrison (R) 2B
3. Andrew McCutchen (R) CF
4. Starling Marte (R) LF
5. Pedro Alvarez (L) 1B
6. Jordy Mercer (R) SS
7. Jung Ho Kang (R) 3B
8. Chris Stewart (R) C
9. Vance Worley (R) P

A little surprised to see PA today.

Unusual stat: Yesterday, Marte was 3 for 6 but stranded 6 when there were runners on base.

Cervelli (1 for 6) also stranded 6 and Harrison (1 for 5) stranded 5.

Harrison did have the only rbi of the game.

Today pretty much looks like a foregone conclusion. What a disappointment.

two close calls and now wacha on the mound agaimst worley smells like trouble. 12 hits last night and 1 run. wheres the timely hitting?

Until these guys get even an elementary grasp of the strike zone this offensive dreck is going to continue. Just look at today. 5 of the 6 outs came on pitches out of the strike zone.

Jeez. Kang's shades look great on top of his cap. Pathetic

Put your sunglasses down. They teach it at Indy.

DP picks up Kang's gaffe. Worley looks solid thus far

2 runs in last 24 innings and 30 LOB

When you can't score you gotta make plays. They aren't making plays.

How about those astros? 6 game lead in ALWest.

Matte have to be on 3rd after that throw. Once again, the little things

Nice to see Jordy rising to the occasion with the signing of Kang.

22 straight LOB. Awful.

I'm going with the Riverhounds outscore the Pirates today.

Lack of clutch hitting all lat year and now this years suggests the approach to RBI's are not working. Not sure what Hurdle can do, but clearly he has to quit trying for big innings and play small ball to make his point. Marte, Cutch and Walker are just not doing it in the middle of the lineup.

Looks like this game is over....

Fundamentals, fundamentals, fundamentals....

I sure am glad that the lack of runs scored and games won during spring training was nothing to worry about. I remember someone being ridiculed for bringing up the lack of scoring.

They do such a great job getting themselves out. Makes life very easy for opposing pitchers.

Buccos crushed fastballs last year...hence teams have changed their approach to how they pitch vs them. This lineup is just not making the adjustments.

Good thing they played AZ last weekend, otherwise this road trip would be a lot worse.

Buccos 8-1 vs Mil & AZ, 4-11 vs everyone else.

safe to say the folks who said j hay would regress are looking fairly astute. still love that guy though.

2 runs in 30 innings

When was the last time they hit a homer ? Have they even hit one on this trip ? In 9 games ? Seriously, this is ridiculous.

Nit real hit bats and cutch just isn't the same as two years ago. Just to inconsistent and the 500 record shows it. Also it is becoming clear good pitching really shuts this team down. correct except or Ariz and MiIl, Bucs rarely make anyone pay for mistakes.

Getting tough to watch anymore. Weak roller here, popup there. Two out walks.

Thinking they'll have plenty of gnomes left over on Thursday.

Worley's best start of the season and we waste it...

The Pirates last home run was by Sean Rodriguez on April 23rd at home against the Cubs. None at all on this trip.

If Kang needs a Mel Ott leg kick to barrel up the ball, then so be it. Let dude bat the way he is comfortable.

Another 7 lob so far.

This is unreal. What a miserable stretch of baseball. We need to snap out of this soon.

Apparently Josh Bell can actually hit the ball. Send the car to Altoona, get him here by Tuesday.

Tiger and Lindsey Vonn have split. Just trying to break up the monotony.

Bucs are ruining a nice relaxing weekend for me

This offense is pathetic....

Do you think Clint would have let Stewart hit if he thought Worley could get a bunt down? Worley was pitching a gem.

Come on Jordy....how can you not have your foot on the bag when you get the throw...hopefully it won't be challenged.

To update my prop bet from earlier, the Riverhounds lost 3-2 today. But those 2 goals look good to stand up against this Bucco onslaught.

This is downright embarrassing. How can these batters (not calling them hitters) be so pathetic. The whole group of them - the worst clutch hitting team going. Wasting all this great starting pitching we have been getting. If you can't score runs off of John Lackey - forget it. Wacha is tough but all I see is a bunch of dead-beats trying to swing a bat and getting no results.

Cutch, still waiting for you to get it going buddy...

The Pirates are starting to remind me of the Pens. Frustrating to watch!

Any other time Hurdle would pinch hit for Pedro...

If only Huntington had gone out and got a veteran right handed hitter or two for situation such as these...

Thanks to Immilton for correcting me. Marte hit a home run in Chicago Tuesday night.

2 more on.........

Anyone read Mathenys book? Thinking about it.

Who would you rather have in this spot - Mercer or Tony Sanchez?

Jordy Mercer is a mess. Unfortunately, he has plenty of company. Or fortunately I guess depending on how you look at it.

Come on Jordy...you can't stand there with the bat on your shoulder.

WEAK! Thought Jordy could hit lefties? At least show like you give a crap and are trying.

Great AB by Mercer.

Something has to change or the fans aren't going to keep supporting this team. Offensive approach is atrocious. Really sad.

Or the great S Rod?
or even Walker batting right handed..

Is Jay bell still the hitting coach? hahahahahahaaa. that's hilarious in of itself. However the question remains how does this much talent suck so bad at hitting?

Tuesday will be another L with Locke pitching. Hopefully, Wednesday will start the turnaround.

What is the point of Bastardo at rhix

Bring back Mario Mendoza - He would fit right in with this team !!!!!!!

Maybe I missed it one of the times I nodded off, but I haven't heard about how many dollars off Pirate tickets for each run scored.

Can't remember more boring baseball. Almost enough to drive one to watching soccer.

Pirates proving it is possible to give up 5 runs in 29 innings over 3 games and get swept.

stuart66. don't be ridiculous

"Rommel, you magnificient bastardo, I read your book!!!"

I wonder if Buster Onley wants a redo on his World Series pick yet!

I can only think of 2 good things to say right now

1. While division seems out of reach right now (Cards are not the Brewers of last year), nobody else is burning it up for the WC currently

2. Pirates will avoid Cueto this week which at this point would be like the 63 Koufax pitching to the bad news bears

Nice!!!!

Jung Ho Gone!!!

Home. run.

I can has leg kick?

Like I said... Time for Kang to get his shot

Finally! The kid comes through.

Hooray for Kang. Now Clint will nail him to the bench for another week.

Wow. That wasn't suppose to happen

1 for 25.

Cole would have at least swung the bat.

Kang needs to get at least a couple starts back to back. In other news, Lambo strikes again.

dk. I would like to submit the question for the 12 q's on tuesday.

how does an entire team with this much talent bat so poorly?

Lambo is still 1-2015??

jung ho kang!

The second this game is over Andrew Lambo should be sent to single A

418 feet on that tater....

Now of course we know they lose 2-1. The only question is, how long will it take ?

Well, what's another Cardinals walk off. On the good side, the Cards, as the best team in the NL, really aren't hitting any better than the toothpick company.

Kang homer prompts the Elias Sports Bureau to research the last time a team completed a sweep consisting of 3 straight 2-1 walk offs

So why not start Kang at SS for the next week and see how he does - Jordy can use the time of to "work on some things".

I suspect it's the Bucs' turn for an extra-inning victory, and badly-needed confidence and momentum going into the series with the Reds. Kang's homer may have been the start of a turnaround in recent misfortunes.

You can win it 2-1 in the 10th, Cardinals, or in the 20th, so you might as well do it in the 10th.

Since August of 2013, including playoffs, the Pirates are 4-17 at Busch Stadium.

Is Cutch hitting everything to right, or just not getting around on pitches?

When is Kang up again???

I'd walk Pedro all day if he doesn't chase to get to Mercer.

Mercer came into today with a sub .500 OPS - and it will be down a lot after today. Time for Kang and maybe even bring up Lombo - and yes I would send Lambo down - much as I like him and want him to succeed.

JHay needs to go back to the bench for a few games.

Time for J Hay to take a seat

You know, it's almost like we got a bit ahead of ourselves bending over backwards to justify why the guy with five good months of Major League Baseball to his name wouldn't regress.

Pedro's OBP is way up lately. Leadoff man of the future?

Where've the Cards been stashing Mitch Harris? He's got some nasty stuff.

Right where the second baseman has been standing for 100 years.

About to come to the predetermined conclusion.

DAYDRO!!!

Daydro!

Molina forgot who was up.

Now, focus!

First extra inning run of 2015 - now need to close it out

Love the dingers; gets runs in and keeps the LOB streak going

So much for that. Still going to lose.

Your boy Liz cannot spot that FB, NMR

Who the hell is this Liz idiot??

This kid scares me.

Unbelieveable...

I guess tickets will be cheap next week

Soft liner to right, is my bet

Sure would be nice to have Holdzkom up

Hahaha. Somewhere Colin Dunlap smiles.

Get em in the 13th...hanging in there

J Hay prolonged the inevitable with that stop.

Get ready because Liz is it...,

It would be nice if the Cardinals would make a few errors every now and then.

Play for 14 now...

Keystone cops routine in the field....

Nice play Jordy-he stinks.

3 years ago if they finished .500 we would have had a parade. Now they are 12-12 and we think they suck! Maybe time to relax and enjoy what we have! (I am talking to myself as much as anyone)!

I know it's still early but I don't understand why the Pirates would sign Josh Harrison to a four-year contract when he's only had one very good year so far.

Congrats JHay, you just joined rare company with Kevin Young....

J Hay going from hero to goat very quickly

No one gets less than 500 swings in the batting cage. Just can't imagine how unfocused this team is.

Cutch is just an easy out right now.

THUS ENDETH THE BALL GAME.

Not a very good team right now...

Pirates now have scored 2 runs or less of 12 of 25 games (48%) and are 1-11 in those games. Piartes are 11-2 when they score at least 3 runs and should be 12-1 if they don't blow the Cubs game 9-8.

The Cards know how to finish...

Buccos have a new house of horrors....

Very troubling. This series was one of the most painful in recent memory.

The issue with the offense isn't anything new, folks. This has been a problem for a long time. They can't run, can't bunt, can't run movers over, can't hit to all fields, can't hit with runners on base, much less in scoring position.And it's gonna be worse with Martin gone, the only guy who seemed to get big clutch hits for this club.

That's 4-18 at Busch Stadium since August 2013. Please disperse, there's nothing to see here.

The Pirates scored four runs in 34 innings this series. They stranded 37 runners. Nothing to analyze beyond that. Not a single thing.

JHay 0 for 7.

Oh, and Tony Watson will be well rested for Tuesday.

They are done, finshed, kaput.

8 of their 12 wins are against Milwaukee (one of the worst teams in MLB) and Arizona (ditto).

Once again their offense isn't walking and is striking out way too much.

Even with St. Louis losing Wainwright they have more to worry about from the Cubs behind them than the Pirates. Until the Pirates can prove they can beat the Cardinals on a regular basis.

One of these days, though, the Cardinals will get theirs. May not be from the Pirates, may not be this century, but sometime.

Cards aren't the Brewers folks. If they get out to a big division lead, look out.

A week from now, after sweeping the Cardinals at PNC Park, and J Hay and Cutch are a combined 18-24 with 12 RBIs, we'll forget all about these three losses. Or not.

JHay is suffering from the Cortez Allen syndrome right now...new contract, poor play...

This is like watching the Mets of the 80's dominate us all over again.

Buccos 8-11 vs division, and 3-9 on the road...

I'm trying to remember a series sweep all games being extra inning walk offs - that can't happen very often - Elias?

Bubble Gum was a little testy after the game...

Baseball is a long season. Take a deep breath & relax.

Cards are 13-4 vs the division....

Whelp - really glad it was such a beauteous weekend I wasn't the least bit tempted to waste my time paying attention to "Hitless Wonders" baseball. Reading some of these comments is painful enough. Seems like the entire team is under a spell of mass hypnosis...

I have had MLB at bat for 3yrs now and watched most pirate games each year. Last week have turned them off because the games are ridiculously boring. I see today was not different. Pirates are going to be hurting in ticket sales. Who would pay to watch them right now

UGH. What more can you say?

Me and the Pirates need to break up for a bit. I need some time away from them.

Thought I was watching a replay of the Pens/Rangers series...

It is only three games out of 162. But wow, can a three game series be any more agonizing?

12th game out of 25 (48%) where Pirates have scored 2 runs or less. They are 1-10 in previous 11.

Gotta beat the birds if ya wanna dance longer than 9 innings in the playoffs.

no offense and i am sure baseball people will attack. who cares? its way too early.

At least the phrase has changed from "Just one game in April" to "just one game in May". sure seems we are hearing it a lot though...frankly I'm tired of it. It's what losers say.....same story from the pens in November. I guess we'll be reading about all the injury excuses in October from the bucs.

Don't get me started with "Just one game". Winners don't say that. It is an attitude born of laziness and futility. It is cancerous for a team to ever feel that way or speak those words.

Pirates vs. Cards = Pens vs. Rangers.........Pirates vs. Central Division = Pens vs. Metropolitan......UGH!