COMON Network

By COMON Network Team

Final Score – St. Louis Cardinals (25-24) 5 def. Pittsburgh Pirates (15-37) 4

WP: Jake Woodford (1-0) LP: Sam Howard (2-3) SV: Genesis Cabrera (1)

The St. Louis Cardinals didn’t have a hit until the seventh inning but own 5-4 over the Pirates Saturday at PNC Park.

Mitch Keller tossed six no-hit innings on 84 pitches with two walks and six strikeouts. Behind him, the offense scored four times. Ke’Bryan Hayes hit a solo homer in the first. Jose Osuna hit a solo homer in the third. Colin Moran singled home a run in the sixth before Jacob Stallings lifted a sac fly to plate a fourth run total in the same inning.

Geoff Hartlieb loaded the bases to start the seventh and before all was said and done in the frame, Hartlieb and Sam Howard accounted for five runs allowed, and the scoring ceased.

The series finishes tomorrow at 4:05 p.m.

COMON Network Team Commentary

KYLE DAWSON

• I don’t get it. Well, I do, but I don’t. Mitch Keller has likely just one start left this season. He was on a pitch count because he is still working back from injury. That’s the part I get. But where do they get somewhere between 80 and 85? What is the difference; and what is the probability that he gets hurt if he throws, say 100 instead? I’m not saying let him throw 140 to try for a no hitter. What I’m saying is put him out there in the seventh, see if he can work through that inning and then if it’s too high for comfort, okay. I just want to know where we get 85 and why that is a hard number no matter what is happening on the field and how he is feeling?
• Ke’Bryan Hayes, albeit I know in a small sample, looks like he might be a star. The glove is astronomically good, and he continues to crush baseballs. Hitting the ball hard plays, and he’s doing it more often than he’s not.
• Blake Cederlind is fun to watch. He picked up his first two big-league strikeouts tonight with the lively fastball and good slider combo. Good stuff again from him.

Player of the Game – Mitch Keller (PIT)

RYAN SIMPSON

• Mitch Keller wanted to one-up Brault’s complete game shutout. What a night for the 24-year-old as this was easily his best start of his Pirate career. If I am the manager, I do not pull him until he gives up a hit or gets to 100 pitches. Keller was through six and had 84 pitches. Let the kid go for it, what the hell. Hopefully this is the same Keller we will see next season…
• Of course, Hartlieb, who has been pretty consistent all year, walked two and hit one to load the bases. Poor Sam Howard had to come in for damage control and got rocked. Stratton, Cederlind and Rich Rod did a fine job in the late innings, but the damage was done.
• Hayes and Gonzalez supplied four of the team’s six hits today which is just laughable. This team is just awful at the dish. Newman took a 97 MPH heater off the knee in the ninth which you hate to see with so little season left.

Player of the Game – Mitch Keller (PIT)

DONNY CHEDRICK

• Let the kid go for it. I know we’re in the age of saving a guys arm and protecting young players, but the Pirates had a chance at some history Saturday night. Mitch Keller tossed six shutout innings against St. Louis and gave way to the Pirates’ bullpen. And wouldn’t you know it, the bullpen immediately blew the lead and the game. Awesome. Why not give Keller a shot at the no-no? Meaningful baseball is out of the question and there are just a handful of games left. Let the team and the fans that are actually still watching have some fun. Maybe next time, but probably not.
• Another good night. Ke’Bryan Hayes went 2-4 at the dish with two runs scored and a home run to break the scoreless tie early in the game. He continues to provide a spark no matter where he is in the lineup. He batted second tonight as he and Erik Gonzalez combined for four hits in the two and three slots. Keep the kid in and let him finish strong.
• I hit this a lot in my first point, but what a horrible loss. Horrible. A 4-0 lead after six and your starter has a no hitter intact. Gone. 5-4 loss. The offense was nonexistent after that. Let’s try tomorrow.

Player of the Game – Mitch Keller (PIT)