The season ended much the way it has gone over the last couple of months. There wasn’t much to write home about from the slab and there wasn’t much offense to speak of. Milwaukee used three homers to support Zach Greinke. Jeff Locke allowed three long balls. The Pirates scored two of their three runs courtesy of Brewer errors.
The Pirates put the first two runners on base in the second inning as Derrek Lee walked and Garrett Jones singled. But Greinke got the next three hitters without incident. In the next inning he got some run support. Jonathan Lucroy led off the bottom of the third with a homer. One out later Corey Hart also homered.
Pittsburgh narrowed the lead to a run when Derrek Lee doubled and scored on Jason Jaramillo’s single in the fourth. But Milwaukee would blow the game open in the bottom of the fourth when Carlos Gomez homered with two out and two aboard (Rickei Weeks and Lucroy). It was 5-1 and it was basically over.
Chris Leroux relieved Locke for the fifth inning. Hart reached on an error by lee. He stole second and scored on a single from Jerry Hairston Jr.
Pittsburgh got one back in the next inning. Neil Walker doubled and scored when Prince Fielder’s throw was errant after Andrew McCutchen grounded out. But Milwaukee kept pace as Hart’s sacrifice fly scored Lucroy to make it 7-2.
Walker doubled again and scored again as a result of a Brewer miscue (this time from Yuniesky Betancourt) in the eight.
Locke was pulled after four innings. He gave up five runs on five hits. He struck out three, walked two and allowed all three Beer Maker dingers. Greinke was the winner as a result of two run ball over six innings. The Buccos got just five hits and one walk. He whiffed four.
The Good
Walker doubled twice and scored two of the Pirate runs.
The Bad
McCutchen’s late season slide continued. His average dipped below .260 on the year with an 0-3 evening.
Bucs wind up with 90 losses.
The Rest
This was Locke’s fourth career start and first against Milwaukee. Greinke moves to 4-1 against Pittsburgh, with three wins coming in 2011.
This was Jonathan Lucroy’s first career three run game.
Jose Reyes locked up the NL batting crown over Ryan Braun. Reyes went 1-1 and left the game against the Reds. Braun was 0-4. Hop in the way back machine with me and remember Miguel Batista. He was a Rule 5 pick of the Pirates in 1992 and is still pitching – the last of two people from the 1992 squad still in the Show. He tossed a complete game shutout against Cincy for the Mets. Batista pitched in one game in the Majors in 1992 before being returned to the Expos.
Bucco hitters will finish 11th in the NL in walks and 14th in whiffs. They also will finish 14th in runs scored.
The season is over. It is a sad evening.
