It should have been a great pitching matchup but it turned into another Brewers Bash last night. Joe Block recaps a hard night for Paul Skenes and the Bucs.
Not that it made that much difference in the game, but the Pirates were upset with home plate umpire Roberto Ortiz, who was calling strikes on pitches way outside the strike zone. Manager Donnie Kelly finally had enough and argued vehemently with Ortiz after Jack Suwinski was called out on strikes in the fifth inning. Kelly was ejected for the fourth time this season.
Centerfielder Oneil Cruz left the game in the sixth with a head injury suffered in an outfield collision with Suwinski two innings prior when both players dove for the ball attempting to catch a pop fly. Kelly said afterward that Cruz was still being evaluated.
The Pirates will try to turn cool off the red-hot Brewers in today’s series finale. Mitch Keller [5-10, 3.86 ERA] starts for the Bucs against Milwaukee’s Brandon Woodruff [4-0, 2.29 ERA]. Airtime is 1:45, with first pitch at 2:10 on WCCS.
