North Shore Nine

For the second game in a row a terrible bullpen and bad management cost a young star in the making a win. Pirates fell today 7-6 after the bullpen imploded failing to protect what had been a very good start from Paul Skenes.

The Pirates had gotten on the board first off a leadoff home run from Andrew McCutchen in the bottom of the 1st. The lead held until the 4th when the Giants were able to tie it on a force out. However, they tie was short lived as in the bottom of the 4th there was a Bart Dart. Joey Bart hit a grand slam giving the Pirates a 5-1 lead. Skenes pitched two more scoreless innings before handing the game over to the bullpen in teh 7th.
In the 7th Heliot Ramos hit a solo shot off of Jose Hernandez bring the score to 5-2. In the bottom of the frame Bryan Reynold hit his own solo shot to push the lead back to four. Then in the 8th the wheels fell off. The Pirates game up 5 runs, all charged to Hunter Stratton, to put the score 7-6 in favor of the Giants. The Pirates were not able to do anything further offensively and fell 7-6.

The Pirates will be back in action tomorrow evening against the Atlanta Braves. Bailey Falter is the expected starter.