Damn you, Jaramillo. Bucs LOSE

	R	H	E	LOB
	2	8	4	8
	3	3	1	5

As if failing to catch an easily playable foul ball for the 3rd out in the 8th--which led to the game-winning home run 2 pitches later--wasn't bad enough, in the top of the 9th, Jaramillo grounded into a double play which killed almost any chance of the Pirates coming back.  Then there was that whole "Tabata's single hits Pedro in the leg for the final out" thing.  WTF.  Ohlendorf's 6 inning, 2 hit, 2 run, 0 ER effort was completely wasted.  The Pirates nearly tripling Oakland's hitting efforts and Lastings Milledge finally getting his first home run of the season.  Wasted.  Just like this whole season.  Thank God interleague is finally over.  Only 32 losses to go...

Shut out. Bucs LOSE

	R	H	E	LOB
	0	2	0	5
	5	8	0	6

Not even 70's throwback uniforms could prevent the Pirates from having one of their most pitiful offensive outings yet.  Tabata and Milledge had the only hits for the Bucs, although 3 were able to get on base because of walks.  Daniel McCutchen wasn't horrible at least, going 6 innings and allowing 4 ER, bringing his ERA down to a lovely 11.00.  Not much to say about this one, as nothing really happened.  The Pirates have lost 16 road games in a row, going back to a win in Cincinnati on May 25th.

Return of the terrible bullpen. Bucs LOSE

	R	H	E	LOB
	4	9	1	5
	14	17	2	8

Once again the 6-9 spots did nothing in the hitting department.  This after hitting well the past few games all the way through the order.  Neil Walker went 3 for 4 and hit a home run, but had to leave the game after colliding with Ryan Church while chasing a foul ball.  No word on his status, although it's unlikely that he'll be able to play tonight.  Garrett Jones and Ryan Doumit both went 2 for 4, and Andrew McCutchen ended his hitless streak which had been going since the Cleveland series.  Brad Lincoln was sub-par, giving up 5 runs, 3 earned, but the real story was the absolutely terrible bullpen.  4 pitchers came in relief of Brad Lincoln, and not one of them left with less than 2 earned runs (DJ Carrasco gave up 3).  Not sure what happened to our formerly excellent pen, but it needs to turn around in a hurry to make these games even watchable in the late innings.

SERIES 25 - Athletics

Oakland Athletics

Friday, June 25, 10:05 PM (FSN)
 Saturday, June 26, 10:05 PM (FSN)
 Sunday, June 27, 4:05 PM (FSN)

 

Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum, Anaheim, CA

Listen live on [WPGB]

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This is the last interleague series for the Pirates this season. It's probably a good thing, as they have won a grand total of 2 interleague games so far, tied with Houston for the worst interleague record in the majors.  However, Oakland, while not as bad as Cleveland, is not as tough a team to beat as the Tigers, White Sox, or Rangers are, and I'm expecting the Pirates to take at least 1 game in this series.  On the other hand, the 3 starting pitchers for the Pirates in this series have yet to win a game all season, so who knows. Late night games suck.

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Expected Pitching Matchups

May 28: Brad Lincoln (0-1-2, 6.50 ERA) vs. Ben Sheets (2-7-6, 4.95 ERA)
May 29: Daniel McCutchen (0-2-2, 13.50 ERA) vs. Trevor Cahill (6-2-3, 3.21 ERA)
May 30: Ross Ohlendorf (0-6-4, 5.43 ERA) vs. Gio Gonzalez (6-5-4, 3.89 ERA)

Proposed Lineups

Pirates

1. J. Tabata, LF
2. N. Walker, 2B
3. A. McCutchen, CF
4. G. Jones, 1B
5. D. Young, DH
6. P. Alvarez, 3B
7. R. Doumit, C
8. L. Milledge, RF
9. B. Crosby, SS

Athletics

1. C. Crisp, CF
2. D. Barton, 1B
3. C. Jackson, DH
4. K. Suzuki, C
5. K. Kouzmanoff, 3B
6. G. Gross, RF
7. A. Rosales, SS
8. M. Ellis, 2B
9. R. Davis, LF

Let's Go Bucs.