Final: Cardinals 4, Pirates 1

Pirates Lineup:
1. Gregory Polanco (L) RF
2. Neil Walker (S) 2B
3. Andrew McCutchen (R) CF
4. Jung Ho Kang (R) 3B
5. Francisco Cervelli (R) C
6. Pedro Alvarez (L) 1B
7. Jordy Mercer (R) SS
8. Sean Rodriguez (R) LF
9. Jeff Locke (L) P

Polanco 4 for 5 against their pitcher.

Game is part of MLB nets regional coverage tonight as well for out of towners

Looking forward to this game - it will be my kids' first PNC Park visit...and the highlight of our summer road trip from Northern California!! Let's Go Bucs!!!

This is Big Boy Baseball this weekend gang.

Let's Get It On!

Let's Go Bucs!

Burgh

Good Locke, Locke!!

I don't mind a delay tonight because I won't be home till 9:30 :)

KDKA TV says the game should start on time

What a great display today of the crew DK has put together. The boss himself, Matt, and Nate all with excellent, original content.

Delmon Young wouldn't look bad on the bench right about now...

If the Pirates are convinced that Starling Marte will be ready to start next Friday in Milwaukee then there's absolutely no reason to put him on the DL. There are other ways to manipulate the roster to improve their bench for the next 4 days.

No Jay, Wong or Holliday? I like the sound of that.

Bucs did well with the Vermont resident in the house Tues-Wed, wet though I was. I beat the rain home today and will be rooting for a 3-1 series from the Williston mancave.

Any update on if the game will start on time?

On a rainy day like today do they have the outfield coveted as well?

The Cards are in a bit of a funk - the only two with a WRC+ for the past two weeks over 100 are Wong [seems to kill the Pirates for some reason] and Grichuk.

Pedro at 115 is higher than anyone on the Cards - and 5th on the Pirates.

Perhaps more important than all the injuries the Cards have had has been the slump that has been dogging Matt Carpenter/ OPS of .448 and WRC+ of 32 over the last 2 weeks - and if you look at the last month things are still bad.

I always thought Carpenter was the "straw that stirred the drink" - getting on base a lot - making big plays defensively and getting clutch hits with RISP.

We need to get Sean Rodriguez going. His bat has been dead the last few weeks. Down to .229 - hopefully he gets going tonite......

Pirates No. 23 prospect Stephen Tarpley one of 2 prospects we got for Travis Snider Threw a NO_HITTER for West Virgina, he gave up just one walk in six otherwise clean innings before rain ended the contest early.

0-0, top of the first? And no heads have rolled?

Remember the days when games actually started at 7:05 on the dot?

Why the camo unis??

We missed you last night Milo.

Well, well....maybe we are finally seeing Gregory turn the corner...for good.

Is Polanco the dumbest player on the team?

Well that sucked...

and suddenly we can't run the bases correctly

Do the Pirates have a base running coach? Is that a position that MLB teams have?

One of the worst base running teams I've ever seen. So stupid

That kind of baserunning is inexcusable at this level. Too mnay of these this year.

Just let Martinez off the ropes there

The sooner they get rid of these uniforms the better

ahh someone call rickey henderson and see if he wants to teach

I am so tired of watching stupid base running by our major league players. Had them on the ropes, should have gotten at least one run. Of course if out All Star started would've not grounded out weakly to third it would not have mattered. Hit a freaking flyball...

So much for the column this morning. Lol

Well, at least we got our base-running blunder out of the way early.

Not getting a run there might really hurt.

Polanco's gotta go. He's not smart enough to be coached. Tough to say that, as this is a sport in which Lenny Dykstra excelled, but I'm not sure Polanco can overcome his head tool deficiency.

Does anyone have any of those old Tom Emanski videos they could send down to PNC? There has to be a segment on base running in one of those.

That wasn't Polanco's fault: 3rd base coach HAS to to tell him--before the ball is hit--that in that situation he MUST break immediately home.

Nice pick and tag by Walker

That was a great throw by Cervelli.

Way to be patient, guys.

That base running blunder was like out shooting your opponent 12-0 in the first 5 minutes of the first period and then your goalie letting in soft goal. Both deflating on your end and a big boost for the other guy.

Wow 5 pitch inning way to work those counts.

Xavier Scruggs platoons with Lester Flatt.

NICE CAMERA ANGLE ON THE BUNT ...

KEEP MAKING HIM PITCH!! ... HE'S WILD!

SHOULD BE 3-1 ON WALKER!

Ouch. I hope the failure to cash in on these early opportunities does not come back to haunt us

Wasting a good start by Jeff...can't keep leaving runners on.

I was never a big Travis Snyder fan, but remind me again why he was traded? After watching pedro at first, I want to offer my apologies to Dick Stuart. Pedro is the worst

It's amazing the number of people who apparently didn't bother to check the forecast before the game.

Man this rain is getting out of hand. Went to the game the other night against SD, that ended just before midnight.

Can we just have the division lead and call it a night?

If Nutting would just pony up for some weather we'd be over the hump But no.

2nd and 3rd ... nobody out ... PEDRO?

One of the most unexpected double plays I ever saw. Wow that sucks.

Alvarez and Kang next up on the idiot parade.

Kings of the TOOTBLAN.

I hope we can go back to 1-run homers soon.

Can't chance men on base.

Always the little things...

Nice job Jordy...

Unreal

for everybody saying the pirates did anything wrong on that double play, please learn the game and then come back

Only the damn Cardinals get away with that crap twice in the same game.

Stand there with the bat on your shoulders Jordy-- good way to drive in runs. He is bad.

Once again...sloppiness....

Jordy fly out STINKS.

Trouble brewing now.

Jordy, when you hit like you do, dude, you simply can't punt like that

Of course, we can fully expect a Cardinals baserunning error to resolve this situation.

Let's see if the Cards know how to take advantage of their chances.

Ugh. We need a DP ball

Not the guy you want up here

There you go. Cardinals cash in

That is what fundamentally sound teams do. The Pirates are a fundamental mess and that is on bubble gum machine--Hurdle.

Pirates had Martinez in trouble twice and didn't score. Cards have Locke in trouble once and cash in.

I'm so sick of the cards. Sick I tell ya.

There you go 2-0

Cards don't let teams off the hook - ask Cubs

Cards are 24-10 vs Central
pirates are 24-20 vs Central

And after Walker and Mercer play Keystone Cops, Locke melts down. Anyone for Pirates show up to play tonight?

LOCKE SHOULD BE PITCHING WITH A NICE LEAD ....

Tough way to break his 12 scoreless inning streak.

Hard to care too much for a team that just doesnt posess the mental faculties necessary to execute the fundamentals of a child's game.

And now Locke starts to fall apart.

Can't allow any more runs here. We are not playing San Diego anymore. The offense now needs to pick up the pace.

Game over...

Hey, stats guys... Can we start posting the players' IQ numbers? That is a pretty big stat.

Cards timely -- We're not.

Mercers error didn't help the cause but Locke has also been shaky this inning

Spend the money, get a real shortstop that can drive in runs--Tulowitzki. I don't care whether Hurdle likes him.

Little Buddy looking for his bucket while SS Minnow takes on water.

Can we go to that three man playoff rotation the rest of the year?

Over and over with the Central. These guys are so far in their heads. Once something bad happens, it's over. We are a solid squad, when not playing within the division.

Lead footed Molina with a stolen base. Inexcusable

Mercer can't boot that play. Terrible error likely cost them the game.

Jeff Locke - head case. First sign of trouble and he can't find strike zone. Goes from bad to worse. He's golden as long as things go smoothly. So frustrating.

Need to pinch hit for Locke this inning. If Hurdle does not do so I will throw something at my TV

3 unearned runs allowed. 2 guys doubled off third.

I think Rodriguez has had only one hit in the last three weeks -- the triple he hit vs. Detroit

Why is Lombardozzi up here??

Bunt? What a great idea.

Lombardozzi is the 2015 version of Michael Martinez

I've seen enough of Lombardozzi. Putrid.

And, the bench steps up. How the hell is Lombardozzi on any major league roster and Tabata wasting time in Indy.
Does Neal H. really want to win?? I am beginning to doubt.

Scoring 4 runs vs Csrdinals pitching with only 4 innings to play will be very difficult.

I hope Locke is done for the night. Frankly had this game as our loss for the series. Locke just not good when the pressure mounts. Big three need to crush em now. Granted Bucs may still come back tonight, just not likely with the Cards pitching. Thought we had Martinez last inning but the DP got him pumped back up.

Great response by the Buccos...

Lombardozzi looks lost...

Çompetitive inning there.

So, we make a crappy ex bullpen pitchers look like Cy Young, can't run the bases, refuse to play defense, and Locke chooses to deliver a non quality start against a team without offensive talent. Unbelievable.

At this rate I would prefer that they bring up some young guys from the minors to replace Gorkys and Lombardozzi They can't do any worse

Pirates have their 3 aces queued up and need to get at least 2 Ws so as not to lose ground going into the break

Our Central Division woes continue.

Could have used that in the 4th...

Pirates look flat in general tonight. Cards really didn't deserve those four runs. Nice double play there, though.

the Cardinals are missing Adams, Holiday and Wong. Still playing well and delivering. the Pirates are missing Marte and Harrison. Where will the offense as limited as it is come from now. But playing a weak schedule has certainly elevated the perception of the Pirates. Wainwright is a big loss and I have every confidence that once all return. the Pirates are done as to the division. Polanco base running has yet to be addressed by Hurdle. Perhaps he needs to take the gum out of his mouth and say something.

Don't jump of a bridge. It's one game. This is the #5 starter. Cole, Burnett, and Liriano are lined up.

Walker looks confused in the dugout...

One team can execute. One team cant, and screw up and beat themselves. Really thats all there is to say. Unless you want to add one team can hit, and one team cant. Especially with Jeff "I choke every key AB, every time" Locke on the mound I cant see how anyone could possibly be surprised, though Polanco on the bases and Mercer in the field certainly didnt help. These teams are further apart than anyone seems willing to admit. Hoped they were ready to take a leap, reality is all their weaknesses (mostly mental) have all been showcased tonight. I HATE the Cards, but it is what it is. Someone around here's got to deliver the hard truth. I'll take plenty of heat for it Im sure.

Let the record show: I told Josh up here in the press box right after the Lombardozzi at-bat that the populace as a whole would make this all about him and that one horrendous at-bat.

Sure enough!

Don't get me wrong: He stinks. Shouldn't be here. But it's completely ridiculous to watch a game like this and fuss over the 25th man.

We have one more hit than guys doubled off third.

Pirates clearly bringing their A .... correction F game tonight.

Hey! This game involves the two best teams in MLB! Wait, I'm not joking!

Nice game by Jordy.

Okay. No piches in sponsored strike zone, yet dude Ks. Give the fans there their money back. Not even trying.

The cards got two on and none out and found a way to punch home runs. The Pirates had two on and none out and found a way not to score. That's why theCcards win divisions and titles and the Bucs don't. It's really that simple.

The Vanimal, posting up. Remember this the next couple days when the bullpen is well rested.

Vanimal eating up some innings impressively. This will help over the next 3 games (he said, while trying to grasp at any bright spot tonight)

NH has to learn the job is top not pay players who are not seasoned enough. He paid Morton to early, Harrison should have been made to play for another year to see if he can continue near last year. He hasn't thus far. credit a nice deal on marte and cutch deal is a joke by anyone's standards. Outside of Bell and the catcher, they have no one who is close to ready to compete for a starting job next year as a position player.

The Cubbies beat up on Choate.

Somebody promise me that Matheny will choose to have Walker bat lefty in a closer game. He's obviously lost his mind.

typical yinzers overreacting

After tonight, Cards will be 29-17 since May 21st and Bucs will be 32-13. So Pirates play .711 ball and gain only 3.5 games.

Pirates now 14-21 .400 vs division (.400) and 36-14 .720 outside division

Here's a thought. How about giving Ishikawa a start in left field in the next game? Rodriguez is certainly not bringing any offensive punch to the lineup these days

So much for that July breakout from Walker...

The Cardinals are the best team in baseball. You can only learn to be as good as they are them by playing them. It's a learning experience.

Any new word on Martes health status? If he goes to the DL, does that mean we will see the return of Tabata?

Interesting....

Mccutchen better come out in hockey pads and a helmet

Whoops.

Nice job by the bully tonight

Still think they need to explore Tulowitzki. We need a bat with some pop and with Jay Hay out for 7 weeks, cannot go with a starting lineup that has Rodriguez in it.

Just stopped by to see if the season is over--sounds like it might be!

Cutch wanted that one.

That ball hit the batters eye...Wow!!

Crushed.

This team will forever be destined to the flip a coin wild card game while the elite teams win divisions.

That's a start....

Way to go Cutch- at least no shut out. Keep it going- stranger things have happened.

Kang's first career homer was against rosenthal. Due up

And the HR forces Cards to go to the closer. Who knows, that may come in to play this weekend

I think rosenthal gave up one run since kang's homer and that was a just a few days ago

Theres a reason the Cardinals are in first - they play sound fundamental baseball - and they do not beat themselves with baserunning blunders. They are a solid team even without Wong - Holliday - Adams

y'all need to expect more than just competing. the cardinals aren't happy with just contending. pirates fans new to be like steeler fans and demand and expect more.

It'll be all right. I know Polanco had the baserunning gaffe, but he looks better at the plate compared to June.

They'll get two of these next three. No harm.

Different game if Mercer makes that DP throw in the 5th...can't make mistakes like that with this team.

Pfffftttt. One egg laid. Need our big guns to pitch like big guns the next three games now.

hey ... a lot went bad tonight ... but it's just one game ... and we can hope a lesson was learned!

I smell a sweep. varsity vs jv

Cards now 25-10 in division - that's definition of a bully