Cardinals Lose Piscotty, Top Pirates

The Cardinals have scored 12 runs in their last three games and four or more runs in six of their last 10 games.

For Pirates fans, did you ever think five years ago that it could get this good? The Pirates have been in this contending position each of the least two seasons, too, but for the first time, the last-week schedule brings them together with the team they are chasing.

Any combination of Cardinal wins and Pirates losses that amounts to four will clinch the division for the Cardinals. The fact of the matter is that Lynn is a fastball pitcher, while the Pirates are a team of fastball punishers, led by Cardinal killer Pedro Alvarez. This move backfired as Gregory Polanco popped out to right field, stranding the bases loaded. Second, the Cardinals need to know if these players are capable of playing every day before they decide on their post-season roster. On Tuesday it’s Michael Wacha against Charlie Morton. Lance Lynn has a career ERA of 5.75 in 17 starts against Pittsburgh.

In 62 games, Piscotty, a 24-year-old rookie, is hitting.310 with seven home runs and 39 runs batted in.

Even with the loss of Martinez, the Cardinals have some of the most depth in their rotation.

Lynn has been lit up by the Bucs this year, allowing 13 runs, nine of them earned, in 11 2/3 innings. Kershaw hasn’t had as much luck against the Giants, going 1-2 with a 2.76 ERA in four starts.

The two outfielders drifted toward each other while spotting a Josh Harrison blooper to left-center field in the seventh inning. Eventually, he was placed in a neck brace and on a stretcher before being carted off. As he was exiting the field of play, he managed to wave to the PNC crowd, which warmly cheered him.

The Pirates have played exceptional winning baseball of late, riding a season-high-tying eight straight victories – a streak broken by the Cubs in Sunday’s series finale.

This is what it has all come down to for these two clubs.

Give the Pirates credit, they have made this division a tight one and have refused to go away.