Pirates Lose Last Home Game

I had a long day today with a bunch of stuff going on in Morgantown. Now I'm back in Columbus and just got a chance to watch the highlights. The Reds got one in the first on an RBI single by Joey Votto, then two more in the second after an error by Josh Harrison.

In the second, Derrek Lee and Ryan Ludwick reached base, and then Chase D'Arnaud belted a triple to the gap, coming home himself on a sacrifice fly by Mike McKenry. 3-3. 

Unfortunately, Danny Moskos came on in the sixth, got his first batter, and then allowed three straight one-out hits, the last of which was a long double by Dontrelle Willis that brought home two runs. The Pirates started a rally in the ninth when Andrew McCutchen walked and Neil Walker doubled him in, but Garrett Jones struck out and Pedro Alvarez flied out to end it.

In other news, Clint Hurdle says the Pirates need to work harder in the offseason.

Neal Huntington, meanwhile, says the Pirates may look to the trade market to improve their team this offseason, given the lack of good options at most of their positions of need. I'm going to write about this in detail sometime this week, but basically, I think it's possible that many of the Bucs' biggest moves this offseason will involve the returns of guys like Paul Maholm and perhaps Ryan Doumit. It would shock me if the Pirates gave up any good prospects in a trade. If they did, I would think they'd want someone very young in return. They could also move Joel Hanrahan for a young hitter who could step in right away somewhere in the infield. 

More tomorrow.