The Pittsburgh Pirates have a chance to get its first three game series sweep of the season this afternoon against the Milwaukee Brewers. This season the Pirates are 4-1 against the Brewers.
Today’s starters:
In today’s series finale, Gerrit Cole [1-0 3.27 ERA] will toe the rubber against Matt Garza [1-1 4.22 ERA].
Cole has a 1-2 career record against the Brewers posting a 3.27 ERA in five career starts. His last appearance against the Brewers was a 4-0 loss on Aug. 29 in which he pitches 7.1 innings and allowed four runs, three of which were earned.
Cole’s last outing was the home opener Monday in which he pitched 6-plus innings allowing three hits, one run, two walks and eight strikeouts in 94 pitches.
“The game can flip from checkers to chess,” manager Clint Hurdle said of the outing. “Chess is a pretty hard game, checkers is a very reactive game but the game of baseball can flip in a pitch and in an out. I think he’s understanding that better, he’s reading swings better and he’s developing his secondary pitches better to where they can become weapons.”
Garza is 2-2 against the Pirates with a 3.92 ERA in eight starts. He posted a 1-0 record with a 4.60 ERA in three starts last season allowing eight earned runs in 15.2 innings pitched. Garza is 2-1 with a 3.58 ERA in six career starts at PNC Park. In Garza’s last outing he earned a win pitching 5.2 innings and allowing six hits, two runs [one earned], five walks and four strikeouts in 100 pitches.
Pregame thoughts:
Hurdle further discussed the team’s offense in his pregame session with the media. This time however the topic was productive outs where runners would advance 90-feet on ground balls.
“There’s value in moving guys 90-feet, even when there’s an out made, it played out last night,” said Hurdle. “The game changes when pitchers don’t throw strike one as much as well. We faced a couple of guys where it was strike one and strike two. We picked up on a theme last night as well that only one person in the first five innings was beat by a fastball. We started sitting soft [pitches]and we did in the second inning and it played very well for us.”
Retaliation can be a necessary part of baseball and it is something the Hurdle has referred to as one of the principle components he discussion upon being hired as the team’s manager.
“It takes time to implement,” Hurdle said. “It takes it intent, it takes conviction and it takes execution. At this level you need to have the mindset where you fear nothing and respect everything. You also don’t go looking for confrontation but never avoid it.”
Today’s lineups:
Pirates [5-6]
1.Josh Harrison 3B
2 Gregory Polanco RF
3 Andrew McCutchen CF
4 Neil Walker 2B
5 Starling Marte LF
6 Pedro Alvarez 1B
7 Jordy Mercer SS
8 Chris Stewart C
9 Gerrit Cole P
Brewers [2-9]
1 Jean Segura SS
2 Jonathan Lucroy C
3 Ryan Braun RF
4 Adam Lind 1B
5 Khris Davis LF
6 Gerardo Parra CF
7 Scooter Gennett 2B
8 Luis Jimenez 2B
9 Matt Garza P
Bottom of the ninth:
When Andrew McCutchen was hit by a pitch, the Pirates had the option of retaliating if they felt the beaning had intent or let the play go and continue to pitch. The Pirates chose the former. When Arquimedes Caminero came in from the bullpen to pitch the ninth inning, Francisco Cervelli had a mound discussion with the reliever. Caminero immediately hit Ryan Braun with the first pitch. Caminero was first warned by home plate umpire Cory Blaser and then both dugouts were warned as well.
Hurdle discussed the team’s identity and the idea of sending a message while quoting a philosopher many children would know fairly well. He says it is more developing a mindset.
“I can remember watching so many kids movies, but a great philosopher Shrek and he has a line where someone asks him to deliver a message and he says when he’s asked to deliver something ‘No,I’m not a messenger boy, I’m a delivery boy’,” Hurdle said. “I think that’s the mindset that I’ve shared with these guys here. We’re not out to send messages, we’re there to deliver the goods.
