Where has all the offense gone? After averaging 11 hits per game during the five game winning streak, the Pirates offense has managed just seven safeties in the last two games – both losses.
Tonight it was Gavin Floyd’s turn to keep the Pirates down. He allowed two singles and two walks while throwing 8 shutout innings. Bobby Jenks tossed a perfect 9th to seal it.
Zach Duke deserved better. He gave up five singles and a solo homer to Alexei Ramirez. He went the distance.
The Good
Duke continues to pitch well. He whiffed a season high seven batters.
The Bad
Ugh. The offense.
Still in the cellar
The Rest
Last time Duke whiffed more than seven batters was way back in his rookie year – 7-7-05 against Philly. Not surprisingly, his whiff rate is the highest it has been since his rookie season.
This is the fifth time the Pirates have been shutout in 2009. They were shutout just seven times in all of 2008.
Through 43 games in 2008, the Bucs were 21-22. This year their mark sits at 19-24.
