Post by joshsbix on Dec 9, 2023 13:44:10 GMT -5
Pittsburgh got a much needed day off on the 7th to reflect on how to correct on a 2 game losing streak. Let's see how poorly things went after that.
8/8
Pittsburgh returned home after the disaster in ATL to play the NL East leaders. Even though hopes were anything but high, Pittsburgh jumped out to an early 2-0 lead against Philly ace Ben Sheets but it was false hope. Sheets recovered after the rocky start to go 8.2 innings and not giving up another run as the Philly machine rolls on winning 6-2. Pirates drop their 3rd straight. Kenny Powers doesn't seem to care much as the heat index reaches highs, even for August.
8/9
Dontrelle Willis took the mound in game two. He pitched well enough to get the win giving up only 2 runs over 6.1 innings but the bullpen blew the 4-2 lead before the Pirates scored in the 7th and 8th ad held off a furious 3 run Philly rally in the 8th and some nervous moments in the 9th as Philly closed the gap to 8-7 before Mantei closed the door for his 3rd save of the season. Pittsburgh ends their 3 game losing streak to get to 1-1 on the sim and forcing a rubber game against the Phils.
8/10
Philadelphia seemed to feel that the 8/9 game was one that they should have won and it showed on this day. Philadelphia scored 2 runs in the first against Dreifort and scattered in 6 more runs to cruise to an easy 8-2 win. Hamels went 7.1 and Feliciano finished off the other 1.2 innings without allowing a hit. Dreifort picks up his 14th loss of the season and seems to have slid out of contention for a rotation spot in 2009. Kenny Powers continues to be on his best behavior, which has everyone on edge. Philly takes the series 2-1 and Pittsburgh falls to 1-2 on the sim.
8/11
The Pirates couldn't get out of Philly fast enough, things only get easier after a Philly series, right? Wrong. The Pittsburgh offense gave more false hope scoring an early run off starter Ryan Dempster but it was German who got knocked out of the game in the 3rd inning after giving up 5 ER. Dempster picks up his 7th win of the season and German turned in an outing that many were expecting after turning in a couple of solid 8 inning outings. The Dodgerrs collected 11 runs on 13 hits and the Pirates couldn't take advantage of the sloppy Dodger defense that committed 2 errors. After the game, Sin Shoo Choo said, "It was weird seeing the other team committing errors, it is a shame we couldn't take advantage tonight." Pirates drop the game 11-3 and to 1-3 on the sim.
8/12
The Pirate offense showed up for this one but it seems Pittsburgh's extra inning magic has worn off as they lose this one in 12 innings, 9-8. LA responded after the Pirates opened up a 6-0 lead in the 4th, ultimately tying the game in the 9th inning after a 3 run 8th. It looked like Kenny Powers was taking a nap in the dugout as Anderson was left in to begin the 8th. Someone shook him awake after the Dodgers scored 3 in the 8th. He seemed ready to pull Anderson but then went back to sleep. Pitching Coach Bob made the decision to go get him without waking KP up. 34 hits between the two teams added up to the Pirates 4th loss in the sim and their 2nd in a row.
8/13
The Dodger offense continued to be hot getting to Bryan Hebson this time for 5 ER in 3.1 innings. Cordova gave up 3 more and CJ wilson gave up 1 in 2 innings. Eaton went into the 7th before Thompson gave up 5 runs in the 8th but it was too little too late as Zach Duke shut the door on any comeback attempt and the Dodgers take game 3, 9-6. Erstad picked up SB 35 in this game and Hietpas went 2-5. Benji Johnson led the team with 3 RBIs. Pittsburgh drops their 4th straight and fall to 1-5 with their 3rd straight loss in LA.
8/14
The Pirates were desperate to fight off a 4 game sweep after narrowly avoiding the sweeps in Philadelphia and Atlanta. Pittsburgh took a 1-0 lead in the first and lead 3-1 after 2. LA took the lead with a 3 run fifth inning and added 2 more in the late innings . Dontrelle Willis was average through 5.1 innings and the Dodgers recovered after pulling starter Jones after 2 innings. The bullpen went 7 giving up only a single run. Taschner picked up the win for LA as they complete the 4 game sweep winning, 6-4. Pittsburgh drops their 5th straight and 4th in a row to LA. Surely things have to get better in SD after the 1-6 start to the sim.
8/15
The Pirates headed home with a chance to end the sim on a positive note. Kenny Powers left the stadium after the Padres scored 4 in the 4th and 4 more in the 5th. Dreifort cruised through the first 3 innings before the wheels fell off. Mattes matched Dreifort's 4 ER and Mantei doubed that with 8 R, 6 earned. Cordova gave up 2 more in the final 2 innings to make the final butcher count 18-4. Pittsburgh drops their 6th straight game and August is looking ugly.
8/8
Pittsburgh returned home after the disaster in ATL to play the NL East leaders. Even though hopes were anything but high, Pittsburgh jumped out to an early 2-0 lead against Philly ace Ben Sheets but it was false hope. Sheets recovered after the rocky start to go 8.2 innings and not giving up another run as the Philly machine rolls on winning 6-2. Pirates drop their 3rd straight. Kenny Powers doesn't seem to care much as the heat index reaches highs, even for August.
8/9
Dontrelle Willis took the mound in game two. He pitched well enough to get the win giving up only 2 runs over 6.1 innings but the bullpen blew the 4-2 lead before the Pirates scored in the 7th and 8th ad held off a furious 3 run Philly rally in the 8th and some nervous moments in the 9th as Philly closed the gap to 8-7 before Mantei closed the door for his 3rd save of the season. Pittsburgh ends their 3 game losing streak to get to 1-1 on the sim and forcing a rubber game against the Phils.
8/10
Philadelphia seemed to feel that the 8/9 game was one that they should have won and it showed on this day. Philadelphia scored 2 runs in the first against Dreifort and scattered in 6 more runs to cruise to an easy 8-2 win. Hamels went 7.1 and Feliciano finished off the other 1.2 innings without allowing a hit. Dreifort picks up his 14th loss of the season and seems to have slid out of contention for a rotation spot in 2009. Kenny Powers continues to be on his best behavior, which has everyone on edge. Philly takes the series 2-1 and Pittsburgh falls to 1-2 on the sim.
8/11
The Pirates couldn't get out of Philly fast enough, things only get easier after a Philly series, right? Wrong. The Pittsburgh offense gave more false hope scoring an early run off starter Ryan Dempster but it was German who got knocked out of the game in the 3rd inning after giving up 5 ER. Dempster picks up his 7th win of the season and German turned in an outing that many were expecting after turning in a couple of solid 8 inning outings. The Dodgerrs collected 11 runs on 13 hits and the Pirates couldn't take advantage of the sloppy Dodger defense that committed 2 errors. After the game, Sin Shoo Choo said, "It was weird seeing the other team committing errors, it is a shame we couldn't take advantage tonight." Pirates drop the game 11-3 and to 1-3 on the sim.
8/12
The Pirate offense showed up for this one but it seems Pittsburgh's extra inning magic has worn off as they lose this one in 12 innings, 9-8. LA responded after the Pirates opened up a 6-0 lead in the 4th, ultimately tying the game in the 9th inning after a 3 run 8th. It looked like Kenny Powers was taking a nap in the dugout as Anderson was left in to begin the 8th. Someone shook him awake after the Dodgers scored 3 in the 8th. He seemed ready to pull Anderson but then went back to sleep. Pitching Coach Bob made the decision to go get him without waking KP up. 34 hits between the two teams added up to the Pirates 4th loss in the sim and their 2nd in a row.
8/13
The Dodger offense continued to be hot getting to Bryan Hebson this time for 5 ER in 3.1 innings. Cordova gave up 3 more and CJ wilson gave up 1 in 2 innings. Eaton went into the 7th before Thompson gave up 5 runs in the 8th but it was too little too late as Zach Duke shut the door on any comeback attempt and the Dodgers take game 3, 9-6. Erstad picked up SB 35 in this game and Hietpas went 2-5. Benji Johnson led the team with 3 RBIs. Pittsburgh drops their 4th straight and fall to 1-5 with their 3rd straight loss in LA.
8/14
The Pirates were desperate to fight off a 4 game sweep after narrowly avoiding the sweeps in Philadelphia and Atlanta. Pittsburgh took a 1-0 lead in the first and lead 3-1 after 2. LA took the lead with a 3 run fifth inning and added 2 more in the late innings . Dontrelle Willis was average through 5.1 innings and the Dodgers recovered after pulling starter Jones after 2 innings. The bullpen went 7 giving up only a single run. Taschner picked up the win for LA as they complete the 4 game sweep winning, 6-4. Pittsburgh drops their 5th straight and 4th in a row to LA. Surely things have to get better in SD after the 1-6 start to the sim.
8/15
The Pirates headed home with a chance to end the sim on a positive note. Kenny Powers left the stadium after the Padres scored 4 in the 4th and 4 more in the 5th. Dreifort cruised through the first 3 innings before the wheels fell off. Mattes matched Dreifort's 4 ER and Mantei doubed that with 8 R, 6 earned. Cordova gave up 2 more in the final 2 innings to make the final butcher count 18-4. Pittsburgh drops their 6th straight game and August is looking ugly.
