There's no question that the Pirates are going to miss Ryan O'Hearn's offensive contributions while he spends up to a month on the injured list with a quad injury.
O'Hearn has served as one of their most reliable bats through the first 40-plus games of the season and now, with him on the shelf long term, other veterans like BryanReynolds and BrandonLowe will need to step up more than they already have.
While the final result wasn't ideal, they certainly played their part in the Pirates' 9-6 loss to the Cardinals here tonight at Busch Stadium. Reynolds reached base twice and went 1 for 4 with a game-tying double in the fifth inning. Lowe contributed with a 2-for-5 output, scoring on a wild pitch in what turned into a four-run fifth.
Surely there was more to be desired from tonight's offensive output, as there were plenty of opportunities that went wasted throughout the 10-inning contest. But it's not as if Reynolds and Lowe were non-existent. If this team wants to get out of this current slump and keep things from slipping away, the guys with the most experience, including Marcell Ozuna and his abysmal .179 average and .580 OPS, need to lead.
THE ASYLUM
Minus O'Hearn, vets must rise
There's no question that the Pirates are going to miss Ryan O'Hearn's offensive contributions while he spends up to a month on the injured list with a quad injury.
O'Hearn has served as one of their most reliable bats through the first 40-plus games of the season and now, with him on the shelf long term, other veterans like Bryan Reynolds and Brandon Lowe will need to step up more than they already have.
While the final result wasn't ideal, they certainly played their part in the Pirates' 9-6 loss to the Cardinals here tonight at Busch Stadium. Reynolds reached base twice and went 1 for 4 with a game-tying double in the fifth inning. Lowe contributed with a 2-for-5 output, scoring on a wild pitch in what turned into a four-run fifth.
Surely there was more to be desired from tonight's offensive output, as there were plenty of opportunities that went wasted throughout the 10-inning contest. But it's not as if Reynolds and Lowe were non-existent. If this team wants to get out of this current slump and keep things from slipping away, the guys with the most experience, including Marcell Ozuna and his abysmal .179 average and .580 OPS, need to lead.
Want to participate in our comments?
Want an ad-free experience?
Become a member, and enjoy premium benefits!
We’d love to have you!