We score, but lose in 11

An interesting game but a bad outcome. Jose Tabata appears to be finding his stroke again. Steven Pearce hit a homer and had a blooper that landed for an RBI in the third. The Pirates could do no more than that. McDonald pitched well allowing 2 in 6 innings striking out 6, but Jeff Karstens gave up a 2 run shot in the top of 11th (Karsten's second inning) and the Pirates went quietly in that 11th inning.

Pitching Karstens was an interesting choice. The bullpen still has Ascino who could have given them an inning and Meek as well. They also could have gone longer with Dan McCutchen earlier in the game. With a day off Karstens will obviously miss his start and that is okay. I don't have a big problem with it, but Karstens often gives up the long ball. But you might could have used another pitcher before going for Karstens and the long haul.

I think part of this recent struggle to score is a result of no Pedro Alvarez. Even with Pedro hitting so poorly, he was still a bat that could park it over the fence. You had to respect his power. Despite Pearce's blast today, Wood and Pearce do not have such a threat. Nor does Diaz who is a big step down from Jones this year. the last few games have been lefties, and Jones has been sitting it out.

The Pirates are needing a bat. At some point you have to start thinking of bringing up someone who can help. Since the AAA club does not have a bat like that then the Pirates are going to have to make a move for someone who can give them some offense soon. In my mind this means that Hanrahan is probably going to be traded this year. I fully expect Malholm, Veras, Biemel, Doumit, Hanrahan, and perhaps Overbay to be traded this year. Only Hanrahan has the trade value to really get a major league ready bat (maybe Biemel).