Bucs drop series finale to Brewers 4-2

As I noted in today’s game thread, any time an announcer says that So-and-So has never done something, somehow it gets done.

Picture this: it’s the seventh inning. The Pirates are leading the Brewers 2-1 in what, up to this point, has been a fairly solid game for the Bucs. Steven Brault, in his first real game in 2021, had a decent outing—four innings with three hits, one earned run, a walk, and two strikeouts. Considering that he was held to 75 pitches, no one could complain (other than some fans, but I digress). The lone Brewers run came courtesy of a Kolten Wong double, a Willy Adames sac fly, and an Eduardo Escobar single that scored Wong. Cody Ponce turned in two very good innings, with no hits and three Ks. On the offensive side, Jacob Stallings had doubled in Bryan Reynolds to tie the game in the third inning, and the Big Nogowski played hero again in the sixth after his sac fly brought home Reynolds, who had tripled.

So it’s the bottom of the seventh, and Kyle Keller is brought in. He gives up a walk to Luis Urias and a single to Manny Pina. With the Brewers pitcher due up at bat, Craig Counsell puts in lefty batter Rowdy Tellez. Derek Shelton counters by taking Keller out and bringing in lefty pitcher Chasen Shreve. The Bucs TV announcers, Joe Block and John Wehner, immediately begin chirping that Shreve has never given up a home run to a lefty batter.

No sooner does SHUT UP YINZ YOU’LL JINX IT pass my lips than Tellez immediately pounds one into the right field seats. 4-2, Brew Crew, and that’s how it ended. Last night’s savior, Gregory Polanco, managed to get struck out after going up 3-0 against Devin Williams.

So, there was that, but I don’t want to end on a totally down note. Hoy Park got two hits and showed he’s willing to steal. Reynolds is ... well, B-Rey. Squid, as I wrote earlier, looked like himself, even if he did put a little too many balls outside for my taste.

It’s just ... guys, really, never say never, okay?