What we learned in the loss - May 7

The Pirates lost to Chris Carpenter and the Cardinals breaking up the win streak. Zack Duke pitched well, earning a quality start and not getting a decision at all.

What we learned was that the Pirates can compete against one of the best pitchers in the NL, the best team in the Central, and we learned that the Pirates still make the mental mistakes that keep them a losing team.

The Pirates were down 3-2, but had first and third with no one out, and Garret Jones at the plate. Jones grounded to the pitcher, and he caught LaRoche in a rundown at third and home. McCutchen did what he was supposed to do and go all the way to third insuring that someone would still be on third. It does mean that McCutchen is out when the tag is applied as LaRoche has the right to the bag. The ump clearly points to McCutchen and signals him out. Andy then walks off the bag, gets tagged as well, and now there are two outs and Jones on second. What makes it worse is that the Pirates still managed to get a run on a wild pitch later in the inning to tie it. The Pirates should have won that game. They blew it on a mental error. They made two fielding errors as well.

Meek took the loss as Yadir Malina, the one who got the strange double play, came up with a clutch hit and the Pirates lose in the top of the ninth.

Our offense is starting to click with Jones hitting when guys are on, McCutchen getting on all the time, Andy playing very well, and Milledge starting to get into a hot streak. It is a shame these mental lapses rob games from us.