Opening Day Takeaways: Good Fight But Too Little Too Late
The game looked like a loss as the Pirates entered the ninth inning of their Opening Day game against the St. Louis Cardinals. The team was down by three runs, and the offense looked pretty stagnant except for one offensive burst in the fifth inning. However, the Cardinals were bringing in their rookie closer and the heart of the Pirates order was coming to the plate. They did provide some fight, but it wasn't enough as the Pirates fell to the Cardinals 5-4 and dropped to 0-1 on the season. While there were some down moments, it wasn't all bad and I like the way the Pirates competed throughout the game, even when it looked like they were down and out.
After day one, it is important not to over-react and be entirely negative. While you hate to start the season 0-1, 15 other teams across the league suffered the same fate, including the defending World Series Champion Washington Nationals. Opening Day is a special day for players and fans alike and it was just great to see baseball being played again. Now, it is time to take a look at some initial reactions, both positive and negative, as the Pirates look to rebound in their Saturday afternoon tilt for game two of the three-game series.
The Offense Fought Throughout the Game
One thing that really impressed me from last night's game was the fact that the offense fought throughout even when the chips were down. Jack Flaherty was lights out throughout the night, and the Pirates had a hard time mounting offense against him. They went 1-2-3 six times in the game and didn't score ant of their runs until the seventh inning or later. However, they showed an ability to battle and stay in the game despite being down 3-0. They knocked Flaherty out by the seventh inning and then started to go to work on the bullpen. The top of the lineup didn't generate much offense, but the three through nine hitters got things going.
The first rally came in the seventh inning as the Pirates were down 3-0. The offense had mustered just two hits to that point and Flaherty looked like he was rolling. A groundout would start the inning before Josh Bell, Colin Moran, and Jose Osuna all singled to load the bases. After Gulliermo Heredia struck out, Jacob Stallings came to the plate with the bases loaded and two outs. He came through grounding the ball past a diving first baseman into right field to score two runs. It made it a one-run game and was the blow that ended up ending Flaherty's night. Unfortunately, Jarrod Dyson couldn't come through with another clutch two-out hit, but the Pirates still had some time down by one.
However, the Cardinals struck back in the bottom of the eighth with a two-run home run by Paul DeJong. The Pirates were once again on the ropes and entered the ninth down by three. Bell and Moran once again got the offense started with a single and a double that put runners on second and third with no outs. Then, Jose Osuna grounded a two-run single up the middle and the Pirates once again cut the deficit to one run. Unfortunately, the Pirates couldn't keep it going and fell 5-4. The middle third of the order was the big catalyst for both rallies and ended the night going 5-12 (.416) with two RBI. If the offense is going to be successful this year those three are going to be key, and to see them have such success on Opening Night was a good sign.
The Bullpen Got Taxed Again
One of the big problems for the Pirates in the exhibition games was the bullpen giving up runs. The bullpen was tallied for 17 of the 21 runs given up by the team over the three-game series. The bullpen was hit hard again on Opening Night and gave up the blow that eventually sank the Pirates chances. Initially, things went well as Clay Holmes relieved Musgrove and had a great outing. He came on with a runner on and one out and, after allowing a single to bring that run home, kept the Cardinals off the board. He pitched 1.1 innings of work and gave up just two hits while striking out a batter.
Then, Richard Rodriguez came into the game and was trying to keep it at a one-run game for his team going into the ninth. Home runs plagued Rodriguez throughout the season last year and it would be another home run that downed him on Opening Day. Rodriguez gave up a single to Paul Goldschmidt to start the inning and it brought up Paul DeJong. DeJong would then launch a two-run home run to left-center field and the Cardinals lead was suddenly increased to 5-2. Rodriguez would retire the next three batters, but it came to little too late as the damage was already done. Had it not been for the home run, the two-run single in the top of the ninth could have been the game-winning hit.
Although you can't assume that would still happen, the bullpen needs to be better for the Pirates to succeed. Musgrove pitched well enough to give his team a chance to win the ball game. He turned in his first quality start of the season and pitched well, but ended up throwing too many pitches. Starters can't go the whole way every game, so they need a reliable guy to come out of the bullpen. It seems no matter who comes out of the bullpen, you are left biting your teeth. The team has to look for someone who is going to be able to step up and be that reliable guy when the team needs them.
The Pittsburgh Pirates play game two of their three-game series with the Cardinals this afternoon at Busch Stadium. Trevor Williams (0-0) make his first start of the year for the Pirates and he will go against Adam Wainwright (0-0). First pitch for this afternoon's game is scheduled for 2:15 pm and you can watch it on AT&T Sportsnet and be heard on 93.7 the fan.
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