BOSTON — Someone associated with the Pirates did something really dumb.
I know, I know, but at least hear this one all the way out, OK?
To start at the finish, they lost to the Red Sox, 5-3, here at Fenway Park on this Monday afternoon that marked their 131st season opener, and the culprit couldn't have been clearer: Gerrit Cole gave up two RBI singles and a three-run home run, all after two outs in the fifth inning.
He went from GOAT to goat, seemingly with a snap.
Except for one rather critical detail.
"Gerrit pitched great," Josh Harrison told me. "Man, he had it all going. I loved what I saw."
"He was outstanding," Francisco Cervelli essentially echoed a little later. "He pitched beautifully."
The sentiment was the same all around the tiny visitors' clubhouse. And it came across not only as genuine but passionate, powerful. They raved about his fastball peaking at 98-99 mph, about his command, about his poise.
Here was Clint Hurdle's response to my question on that subject:
Below are Cole and Cervelli. Cole is covering his mouth even though he's facing the Pirates' dugout, which is really pretty funny, if you think about it:
