This is a brief and incomplete list of things the Pirates did this weekend:
- Won a game 1-0 in 13 innings.
- Had a one-run lead in the eighth inning of a game while the Phillies had the bases loaded and no outs, then somehow escaped the jam with two ground balls that were turned into force outs at the plate.
- Won said game by one run, 4-3.
- Wasted a nine shut out innings from AJ Burnett by not scoring any runs in regulation for the second time in three days.
- Won 1-0 in 11 innings.
- Swept the Phillies.
Since the Pirates came into this series without an extra inning win and without a walkoff win, it sort of feels like the universe tried to even things up all together in this three-game set.
The sweep of the Phillies gives the Pirates four wins in six games against the Brewers and Phillies this week, so the two losses to the Brewers to open this homestand can be more or less forgotten, I think. The offense is obviously still scuffling, but the fact that Chris Sale started for the White Sox today and will miss the Pirates next week is some comfort, at least.
With this win, the Pirates are 17-5 in their last 22 games. That gives them a 35-27 record, which is just a half-game behind the Dodgers for the NL’s second best record. That’s still six games worse than the Cardinals, who at least were unable to find some unreasonable way to win today due to a rainout. Keep winning games, and be patient, I suppose. That’s all the Pirates can really do right now.
Photo by Jared Wickerham/Getty Images
