Looking ahead to first pitch …
Game: Pirates (71-47) vs. San Francisco Giants (65-55), 7:07 p.m., PNC Park
Pitchers: Charlie Morton (7-4, 4.36) vs. Jake Peavy (3-5, 4.18)
TV, radio: Root Sports (local) / MLB Network (national), 93.7 The Fan
Online: Gameday | Multimedia | Media notes
Matt’s five pregame notes:
• The defending World Series champion Giants are back in town for the first time since their 8-0 victory in the NL wild card game last October. The Pirates have actually won seven of their past eight meetings with San Francisco, including a three-game sweep in early June.
That successful trip to the Bay Area was one of four sweeps the Pirates have had against NL West teams this year. They’re a stunning 16-3 against the West, which makes their 21-29 mark in the Central all the more befuddling.
“I look at (the NL West numbers) and I say, ‘Wow,'” Clint Hurdle said. “Then I look at our NL Central record and I say, ‘Wow.'”
The Pirates have a three-game lead over the Cubs for the NL’s first wild-card spot, while the Giants are the first team out of the playoff field, seven back of Pittsburgh.
• This series ranks as one of the more anticipated of the season here at PNC Park, and the intrigue level just went up with the Giants’ waiver-trade acquisition of old friend Marlon Byrd from the Reds. Byrd’s presence may make up for the absence of Hunter Pence, who is on the DL with an oblique strain.
As for the Pirates, there may be a reunion in the home dugout soon, as Hurdle said Jordy Mercer and Josh Harrison could return to the majors “sometime during this series.” Both infielders have been on rehab assignments with Triple-A Indianapolis for more than a week.
• This series features a matchup of two of the hottest offenses in the National League. Since the break, the Pirates lead the league in runs per game (4.97), slugging percentage (.441) and Weighted Runs Created+ (116), while ranking second in batting average (.273) and on-base percentage (.334). The Giants are top five in all those categories, scoring the third-most runs in the NL (4.68) over that span.
The Pirates’ hitters haven’t been afraid to ambush pitchers, either, sporting the best average in MLB (.391) when swinging at the first pitch.
“In a perfect world, everyone would like to see 4.3 pitches per at-bat, but we’ve been ready to hit when we’re in the box,” Hurdle said. “We’ve been posting up looking for one pitch in one spot collectively as a group.”
• Andrew McCutchen was caught stealing last night, continuing a down year for him in that area. The 28-year-old has had his steal attempts drop from 37 in 2013 to 21 last year and now nine with 44 games to play.
“I’m still trying to take the next base,” McCutchen insisted, adding that he has the go-ahead to steal when the opportunities present themselves.
The advanced numbers indicate that McCutchen has been slightly below average on the basepaths overall, as he is a minus-2 in Baserunning Runs. For reference, he was a plus-3 in each of the past two seasons. Also, his double-to-triple ratio is 28 to 3, or 9.3 doubles for every triple. His pre-2015 average was 5.6.
• Madison Bumgarner gets the call tomorrow for Giants manager Bruce Bochy, but the Pirates still have to be wary of last year’s wild-card nemesis. Bochy has employed Bumgarner, he of the .255/.281/.491 batting line and four home runs, as a pinch-hitter twice this week. The 2014 World Series MVP came through with a hit Tuesday night in St. Louis.
“Tongue in cheek, we sometimes say, ‘Treat him like a player,'” Hurdle said. “Well, you have to treat him better than some players. The bat’s real. The bat plays.”
Follow the game with Matt:
6:48 p.m.: Before we get started, the Pirates announced they’ve signed Travis Snider to a minor-league deal. Snider will join Triple-A Indianapolis tonight, as will Corey Hart, who is expected to begin a rehab stint.
7:07: Pirates in their desert-camo military uniforms. Giants in gray with “San Francisco” across the chest. Here we go with a strike from Morton to Gregor Blanco.
7:23: Aramis Ramirez pokes a book-rule double just inside the right-field line. Starling Marte scores, 1-0 Bucs.
7:56: Morton gets through his first big challenge, whiffing Brandon Belt on a curve down and in with two runners on in the third. Francisco Cervelli is pumped up about that one.
8:12: In the face of Brandon Crawford‘s best defensive efforts, the Pirates get another run. Jung Ho Kang follows Ramirez’s nine-pitch walk with a line-drive double off the Clemente Wall. 2-0 Pittsburgh in the third.
8:32: Morton gets Blanco looking with a man on second. He’s through five scoreless with four strikeouts. (Praying mantises are the kings of the bug world.)
8:48: A perfect sixth for Morton, including two swinging strikeouts with filthy hooks. Call him ‘Uncle Charlie’ tonight?
8:58: A Kang single is followed by Neil Walker‘s 13th homer of the year, several rows up the right-field grandstand. 413 feet is the measurement. 4-0 is the score in the sixth. Morton bats, so he’ll be back for the seventh.
9:15: Morton was one strike from getting through seven innings, but he hits pinch-hitter Ehire Adrianza to load the bases with two outs. It’s time for Jared Hughes.
9:23: Blanco lines out to Gregory Polanco to end the inning. You need some luck in this game.
9:41: Nicely done by Hughes to navigate the eighth. Let’s see who emerges from the Pirates ‘pen for the ninth …
9:51: Tony Watson took the ball and … you know the rest. Pirates win 4-0 and have now taken seven of their past eight. They’re a season-high 25 games over .500.
Jung Ho Kang congratulates Neil Walker on his two-run home run in the sixth inning. -- GETTY
August 20, 2015
Final: Pirates 4, Giants 0
296by Matt Gajtka • Game previews • Pirates
Looking ahead to first pitch …
Game: Pirates (71-47) vs. San Francisco Giants (65-55), 7:07 p.m., PNC Park
Pitchers: Charlie Morton (7-4, 4.36) vs. Jake Peavy (3-5, 4.18)
TV, radio: Root Sports (local) / MLB Network (national), 93.7 The Fan
Online: Gameday | Multimedia | Media notes
Matt’s five pregame notes:
• The defending World Series champion Giants are back in town for the first time since their 8-0 victory in the NL wild card game last October. The Pirates have actually won seven of their past eight meetings with San Francisco, including a three-game sweep in early June.
That successful trip to the Bay Area was one of four sweeps the Pirates have had against NL West teams this year. They’re a stunning 16-3 against the West, which makes their 21-29 mark in the Central all the more befuddling.
“I look at (the NL West numbers) and I say, ‘Wow,'” Clint Hurdle said. “Then I look at our NL Central record and I say, ‘Wow.'”
The Pirates have a three-game lead over the Cubs for the NL’s first wild-card spot, while the Giants are the first team out of the playoff field, seven back of Pittsburgh.
• This series ranks as one of the more anticipated of the season here at PNC Park, and the intrigue level just went up with the Giants’ waiver-trade acquisition of old friend Marlon Byrd from the Reds. Byrd’s presence may make up for the absence of Hunter Pence, who is on the DL with an oblique strain.
As for the Pirates, there may be a reunion in the home dugout soon, as Hurdle said Jordy Mercer and Josh Harrison could return to the majors “sometime during this series.” Both infielders have been on rehab assignments with Triple-A Indianapolis for more than a week.
• This series features a matchup of two of the hottest offenses in the National League. Since the break, the Pirates lead the league in runs per game (4.97), slugging percentage (.441) and Weighted Runs Created+ (116), while ranking second in batting average (.273) and on-base percentage (.334). The Giants are top five in all those categories, scoring the third-most runs in the NL (4.68) over that span.
The Pirates’ hitters haven’t been afraid to ambush pitchers, either, sporting the best average in MLB (.391) when swinging at the first pitch.
“In a perfect world, everyone would like to see 4.3 pitches per at-bat, but we’ve been ready to hit when we’re in the box,” Hurdle said. “We’ve been posting up looking for one pitch in one spot collectively as a group.”
• Andrew McCutchen was caught stealing last night, continuing a down year for him in that area. The 28-year-old has had his steal attempts drop from 37 in 2013 to 21 last year and now nine with 44 games to play.
“I’m still trying to take the next base,” McCutchen insisted, adding that he has the go-ahead to steal when the opportunities present themselves.
The advanced numbers indicate that McCutchen has been slightly below average on the basepaths overall, as he is a minus-2 in Baserunning Runs. For reference, he was a plus-3 in each of the past two seasons. Also, his double-to-triple ratio is 28 to 3, or 9.3 doubles for every triple. His pre-2015 average was 5.6.
• Madison Bumgarner gets the call tomorrow for Giants manager Bruce Bochy, but the Pirates still have to be wary of last year’s wild-card nemesis. Bochy has employed Bumgarner, he of the .255/.281/.491 batting line and four home runs, as a pinch-hitter twice this week. The 2014 World Series MVP came through with a hit Tuesday night in St. Louis.
“Tongue in cheek, we sometimes say, ‘Treat him like a player,'” Hurdle said. “Well, you have to treat him better than some players. The bat’s real. The bat plays.”
Follow the game with Matt:
6:48 p.m.: Before we get started, the Pirates announced they’ve signed Travis Snider to a minor-league deal. Snider will join Triple-A Indianapolis tonight, as will Corey Hart, who is expected to begin a rehab stint.
7:07: Pirates in their desert-camo military uniforms. Giants in gray with “San Francisco” across the chest. Here we go with a strike from Morton to Gregor Blanco.
7:23: Aramis Ramirez pokes a book-rule double just inside the right-field line. Starling Marte scores, 1-0 Bucs.
7:56: Morton gets through his first big challenge, whiffing Brandon Belt on a curve down and in with two runners on in the third. Francisco Cervelli is pumped up about that one.
8:12: In the face of Brandon Crawford‘s best defensive efforts, the Pirates get another run. Jung Ho Kang follows Ramirez’s nine-pitch walk with a line-drive double off the Clemente Wall. 2-0 Pittsburgh in the third.
8:32: Morton gets Blanco looking with a man on second. He’s through five scoreless with four strikeouts. (Praying mantises are the kings of the bug world.)
8:48: A perfect sixth for Morton, including two swinging strikeouts with filthy hooks. Call him ‘Uncle Charlie’ tonight?
8:58: A Kang single is followed by Neil Walker‘s 13th homer of the year, several rows up the right-field grandstand. 413 feet is the measurement. 4-0 is the score in the sixth. Morton bats, so he’ll be back for the seventh.
9:15: Morton was one strike from getting through seven innings, but he hits pinch-hitter Ehire Adrianza to load the bases with two outs. It’s time for Jared Hughes.
9:23: Blanco lines out to Gregory Polanco to end the inning. You need some luck in this game.
9:41: Nicely done by Hughes to navigate the eighth. Let’s see who emerges from the Pirates ‘pen for the ninth …
9:51: Tony Watson took the ball and … you know the rest. Pirates win 4-0 and have now taken seven of their past eight. They’re a season-high 25 games over .500.