Pregame notes 5:52: Starling Marte was on the field this afternoon taking early swings on the field. Clint Hurdle said Marte also hit off the team’s velocity/spin machine in the batting cages before he ran, threw and hit on the field. Marte hasn’t played since he was removed from Sunday’s game after experiencing left side discomfort, and he hadn’t done baseball activity until yesterday. “I still feel it but I’m ready to play,” Marte said after he participated in pregame work with the rest of the team. Whether he’s available off the bench remains to be seen. … Josh Harrison returned to the team Friday after he underwent surgery to repair a torn ligament in his left thumb. Harrison is on the disabled list for the first time in his career. The high volume of rain in Pittsburgh leads one to wonder if the infield dirt’s complexion is altered, and if those conditions could lead to potential injury or freak incidents like when Marte upended himself on a slide last month. “You can run into some cases where the dirt will be a little softer than others and sometimes you’ll stick,” Harrison said. “That’s not anything that ‘the dirt’s going to be like this, let me not steal.” … Jordy Mercer bats fifth against Lynn tonight, just the second time he’s hit fifth this season. Aside from a handful of games hitting second, Mercer has mostly hit in the lower third of the order this year. But the shortstop is a .385 — 5 for 13 — lifetime hitter against Lynn, and the manager likes the matchup. “This guy throws a lot of fastballs,” Hurdle said of Lynn. … Skies are once again cloudy, but the chance of rain is much lower than it was leading into recent games.
7:06: First pitch, Cole to Matt Carpenter, 72 degrees, dark clouds.
7:23: Pirates 1, Cardinals 0, 1st. The Pirates put two on in the first again, but this time take advantage. Mercer doubles with two outs to score Neil Walker.
7:29: Pedro Alvarez looks at a fastball up and over from Lynn, then strikes out swinging on a changeup outside to strand runners on second and third.
7:40: Each pitcher retires the side in order in the second. Lynn’s struck out four already today.
7:45: Tommy Pham leads off with a double but Lynn can’t get a bunt down, Cole strikes him out. That’s rather important.
7:46: Cardinals 2, Pirates 1, 3rd. Never mind. Carpenter lines a home run to center off a 2-0 slider from Cole.
7:50: Hurdle says he wants to keep Gregory Polanco in right because that’s what he’ll be playing for a long time, essentially. But Travis Ishikawa allows a ball to fall for a two-out single Polanco probably catches and ends the inning.
7:58: Polanco works a leadoff walk. Not to keep beating a dead horse, but that’s a pair of 5-pitch at-bats for him so far. One walk, one backwards K.
8:00: Walker singles for the second time and after Lynn throws two balls to start McCutchen’s plate appearance, pitching coach Derek Lilliquist takes a visit to the mound. First and second with no outs.
8:05: Pirates 2, Cardinals 2, 3rd. McCutchen flies out then Jung Ho Kang gets ahead of Lynn 3-1 then singles to right and Polanco scores. Tie ballgame.
8:08: Mercer grounds to short and the ball hits Walker. He’s ruled out but, intentional or not, that saves a double play. Matheny went out and had an extended conversation with the umpires, probably arguing for a double play.
8:11: Pirates 3, Cardinals 2, 3rd. Alvarez rides a fastball low-and-away to left-center and Kang scores as the Pirates re-take the lead. When talking about hitting a ball where it’s pitched, refer to that.
8:14: Ishikawa pops out to end the inning. Lynn’s needed 70 pitches already to get through just the first three innings. Pirates patience against a fastball-heavy pitcher tonight is impressive.
8:23: A ruling Cole hit Yadier Molina leading off the fourth is accurately reversed upon Hurdle’s challenge, then Cole proceeds to set the Cardinals down 1-2-3.
8:26: Chris Stewart leads off the home fourth with a single to the shortstop hole. Jhonny Peralta’s throw doesn’t make it past the interior infield grass on its way to first.
8:27: Stew.
8:32: Pirates 5, Cardinals 2, 4th. Walker sends a two-run home run to left-center. He’s 3 for 3 in four innings tonight.
A few years ago and thank goodness they finally did what all other MLB teams do. They need to raise revenues to compete.
DemonDachshund
7-10-2015, 4:25 pm
When they realized they could and still sell every ticket?
cdeardo
7-10-2015, 4:38 pm
Ohio State football is worse in terms of price variance
steelag70
7-10-2015, 4:42 pm
As well they should...
JAL
7-10-2015, 3:30 pm
Pirates Lineup
RF Gregory Polanco (L)
2B Neil Walker (S)
CF A. McCutchen (R)
3B Jung-Ho Kang (R)
SS Jordy Mercer (R)
1B Pedro Alvarez (L)
LF Travis Ishikawa (L)
C Chris Stewart (R)
P Gerrit Cole (R
3B Matt Carpenter (L)
2B Kolten Wong (L)
SS Jhonny Peralta (R)
RF Jason Heyward (L)
C Yadier Molina (R)
LF Randal Grichuk (R)
1B Dan Johnson (L)
CF Tommy Pham (R)
P Lance Lynn (R
Radio wave
7-10-2015, 3:37 pm
Cardinals order looks stronger than yesterday, and where will the hits come from 7 to 9 in our lineup
It's what Jhay, Marte AND Cervelli being out translates to. However, I don't understand Hurdle's abject fear of batting Pedro 5th even with all of the absences.
At least swap Mercer and Walker in this situation. Mercer can lay down a bunt if Polanco gets on leading off, and Walker's in an RBI slot.
NMR
7-10-2015, 4:16 pm
Why Lynn would even come close to throwing Alvarez a fastball near the zone with Ishikawa and Stewart behind him is beyond me.
cmat0829
7-10-2015, 4:25 pm
Why would he throw Pedro a fastball in the zone no matter where he bats?
Tom P.
7-10-2015, 4:26 pm
Shhh, the Cardinals may have hacked this blog....
cdeardo
7-10-2015, 4:40 pm
I missed it whilst on vacation - what's wrong with Cervelli?
steelag70
7-10-2015, 4:41 pm
@cdeardo...Cole's personal catcher is playing tonight.
NMR
7-10-2015, 4:58 pm
@cmat...OMG why didn't every single other MLB club realize that??? It's almost like baseball is just a bit more complicated than you're making it out to be.
BD
7-10-2015, 5:02 pm
Cmat. Nailed it any advance scout that doesn't have a report of all curveballs, change ups to Pedro with an occasional fastball a foot outside just for show is missing something.
A. Lane
7-10-2015, 7:06 pm
Cmat, it is not Alvarez's fault. It is the lack of lineup projection, the hitting coaches, Hurdle, Corey Hart for not being able to offer him a break.
I see a lot of conclusions being drawn over Polanco's first 600 at bats, what about Alvarez's last 700 plus of being nothing more than a league average hitter, and a replacement level player?
Joe Yinzer
7-10-2015, 4:29 pm
Tonight the Bucs get serious. They might even run the bases correctly. Baseball 101.
Can somebody go down to Louisville and buy some Sluggers? The Pirates seem to have misplaced their bats. Cutch found one late......... maybe he can bring that bat to the game tonight.
Like I said on another column today....I have all the confidence in Cole, AJ and Frankie...not so much confidence that this lineup as currently constructed can score enough runs. Cutch is Cutch, but can Polanco and Kang continue positive AB's?? Mercer?? What happened to Walker's breakout in Detroit??
I know Cole and Stewart have worked well together so far this season, but I wonder if Cervelli will ever get a chance to catch Cole. I guess if it's not broke don't fix it.
Kinda wonder how that will work for Sept/Oct you know?
BD
7-10-2015, 4:58 pm
I think in the second half they should work Cervelli in a few times with him. I would think I'm a wildcard game you would want Cervelli in the line up. (Assuming cole would be pitching it) or in a division series game 7 for example
pitsports49
7-10-2015, 5:42 pm
If Stewart catches cole in the playoffs. So what. He's don't more than fine catching and hitting
bpn8pitt
7-10-2015, 6:13 pm
The way Stewarts hitting now, I guess its not a big deal. If that changes, we'll see. Having Cervelli as bat off the bench isn't a bad thing either. Use him in a double switch ect.
steelag70
7-10-2015, 4:50 pm
As the great Jon McKay once said when asked about the execution of his offense: "I'm all for it."
While I what the Cardinals do and how they do it as a team and as a franchise, they just flat out annoy me. They are smug. They are the John Harbaugh of baseball.
I'm watching Inside Pirates Baseball... 10 Great: Pirates Comebacks... Ahh what memories. Everyone remember Jason Michaels and that comeback against the Cardinals in 2008?
Well........... lets hope the Buccos have something more than plastic Whiffle Ball bats tonight. Great Googly Moogly these boys are creating a breeze in the park with all the fanning at the plate. Yikes.
Tough when your struggling and then get screwed on 3 pitches. Later we will wonder why he chases some
tenpin288
7-10-2015, 7:29 pm
After each inning or half-inning, the home plate ump should be made to review his ball and strike calls so he can see how off or on he is and make adjustments accordingly!
cdbrewer
7-10-2015, 7:42 pm
@Tenpin
I like the idea, but it should be after full innings so both teams deal with the same zone each inning...just my thought.
BD
7-10-2015, 7:44 pm
What's hard to understand is why MLB doesn't do something about the poor quality and consistency of home plate umpiring. It's not as if it is an occasional issue
How about Charlie Sheen's breakfast cereal jingle from 2 1/2 men "Oh oh, oshikuru," as ishikawa's batting
tune? Pretty low class, but my standards are as low as his batting average.
It wasnt breakfast cereal it was the theme for a cartoon opening which he changed at the request of jake and didnt get it. when he and jake watch the opening the song is essentially the one jake made him change.
Durka
7-10-2015, 7:39 pm
Last Pirates team to have a sub 3 ERA at the all star break was in 1968. 40-41 record at that point as well
That home plate ump is giving yadi everything. That call on gang was awful. Yadis glove even moved half a foot. What's the commissioners email address I've had it.
The only reason to wait was to block the ball which he never took his eyes off of until it hit him and he tried to make it look like an accident... HEADS UP PLAY! Got us a run!
@Durka, did you subtract the strikes called on Polanco that were balls? ;)
Durka
7-10-2015, 8:27 pm
I think that would be 33 then hahaha
Rock
7-10-2015, 8:15 pm
Mercer needs to score there. Just like cutch should have scored earlier. What's there a better chance of -Mercer beating the throw or Ishiwaka cashing in?
That Walker play reminds me of Reggie Jackson putting his ample behind in the way of a Steve Garvey throw in the World Series costing the Dodgers a double play. Tommy Lasorda lost his mind.
I love that we have Lynn at 70 pitches through 3. Yes, the runs are more important, but grinding through a staff is sooo important in a series.
GET TO THAT MIDDLE RELIEF!!
"We're sorry, Mr. Matheny. But, unfortunately, there does not appear to be a way we can declare a double play. However, we can continue to batter's box pitches strikes for Lynn." Umps
Is it negative to mention that I want Molina to be maimed? He is quickly replacing McGwire and LaRussa as public enemy #1 in my book. Oh, how I hate him.
DormontyDawson
7-10-2015, 8:22 pm
Have you seen Ishikawa's at-bats?
(Sorry 21. Someone had to do it.)
bpn8pitt
7-10-2015, 8:23 pm
Lol. Of all the people to suggest that.
Pittsburgh21
7-10-2015, 8:24 pm
Maiming Molina is allowed ... PMA ... For the Pirates at play!
bpn8pitt
7-10-2015, 8:18 pm
Milo, you mentioned 💋 line against Lynn? Tabata hits .335 lifetime against the Cards.
Will be even more so classless when he has Lynn plunk Cutch
cmat0829
7-10-2015, 8:20 pm
Now the home plate ump defers to yadi as the hitter too? That wasn't close to hitting him. It was clearly a foul ball off the bat. To call that originally was AWFUL. No excuses anymore. That ump needs to go to AAA.
The Pirates stretch by the cage under cloudy skies early Friday evening. -- NATE BARNES
July 10, 2015
Live: Pirates 5, Cardinals 2, 4th
189by Nate Barnes • Game previews • Pirates
Four hours to first pitch…
Game: Pirates (50-35) vs. St. Louis Cardinals (56-30), 7:07 p.m., PNC Park
Pitchers: RHP Gerrit Cole (12-3, 2.28) vs. RHP Lance Lynn (6-4, 2.53)
TV, radio: Root Sports, 93.7 The Fan
Online: Gameday / Multimedia / Media notes
Pregame notes 5:52: Starling Marte was on the field this afternoon taking early swings on the field. Clint Hurdle said Marte also hit off the team’s velocity/spin machine in the batting cages before he ran, threw and hit on the field. Marte hasn’t played since he was removed from Sunday’s game after experiencing left side discomfort, and he hadn’t done baseball activity until yesterday. “I still feel it but I’m ready to play,” Marte said after he participated in pregame work with the rest of the team. Whether he’s available off the bench remains to be seen. … Josh Harrison returned to the team Friday after he underwent surgery to repair a torn ligament in his left thumb. Harrison is on the disabled list for the first time in his career. The high volume of rain in Pittsburgh leads one to wonder if the infield dirt’s complexion is altered, and if those conditions could lead to potential injury or freak incidents like when Marte upended himself on a slide last month. “You can run into some cases where the dirt will be a little softer than others and sometimes you’ll stick,” Harrison said. “That’s not anything that ‘the dirt’s going to be like this, let me not steal.” … Jordy Mercer bats fifth against Lynn tonight, just the second time he’s hit fifth this season. Aside from a handful of games hitting second, Mercer has mostly hit in the lower third of the order this year. But the shortstop is a .385 — 5 for 13 — lifetime hitter against Lynn, and the manager likes the matchup. “This guy throws a lot of fastballs,” Hurdle said of Lynn. … Skies are once again cloudy, but the chance of rain is much lower than it was leading into recent games.
7:06: First pitch, Cole to Matt Carpenter, 72 degrees, dark clouds.
7:23: Pirates 1, Cardinals 0, 1st. The Pirates put two on in the first again, but this time take advantage. Mercer doubles with two outs to score Neil Walker.
7:29: Pedro Alvarez looks at a fastball up and over from Lynn, then strikes out swinging on a changeup outside to strand runners on second and third.
7:40: Each pitcher retires the side in order in the second. Lynn’s struck out four already today.
7:45: Tommy Pham leads off with a double but Lynn can’t get a bunt down, Cole strikes him out. That’s rather important.
7:46: Cardinals 2, Pirates 1, 3rd. Never mind. Carpenter lines a home run to center off a 2-0 slider from Cole.
7:50: Hurdle says he wants to keep Gregory Polanco in right because that’s what he’ll be playing for a long time, essentially. But Travis Ishikawa allows a ball to fall for a two-out single Polanco probably catches and ends the inning.
7:58: Polanco works a leadoff walk. Not to keep beating a dead horse, but that’s a pair of 5-pitch at-bats for him so far. One walk, one backwards K.
8:00: Walker singles for the second time and after Lynn throws two balls to start McCutchen’s plate appearance, pitching coach Derek Lilliquist takes a visit to the mound. First and second with no outs.
8:05: Pirates 2, Cardinals 2, 3rd. McCutchen flies out then Jung Ho Kang gets ahead of Lynn 3-1 then singles to right and Polanco scores. Tie ballgame.
8:08: Mercer grounds to short and the ball hits Walker. He’s ruled out but, intentional or not, that saves a double play. Matheny went out and had an extended conversation with the umpires, probably arguing for a double play.
8:11: Pirates 3, Cardinals 2, 3rd. Alvarez rides a fastball low-and-away to left-center and Kang scores as the Pirates re-take the lead. When talking about hitting a ball where it’s pitched, refer to that.
8:14: Ishikawa pops out to end the inning. Lynn’s needed 70 pitches already to get through just the first three innings. Pirates patience against a fastball-heavy pitcher tonight is impressive.
8:23: A ruling Cole hit Yadier Molina leading off the fourth is accurately reversed upon Hurdle’s challenge, then Cole proceeds to set the Cardinals down 1-2-3.
8:26: Chris Stewart leads off the home fourth with a single to the shortstop hole. Jhonny Peralta’s throw doesn’t make it past the interior infield grass on its way to first.
8:27: Stew.
8:32: Pirates 5, Cardinals 2, 4th. Walker sends a two-run home run to left-center. He’s 3 for 3 in four innings tonight.