The Pirates carried a combined no-hitter into the late innings on Monday night, stringing together more than six frames of hitless baseball before the Cardinals broke through with a two-out single in the seventh. However, a 2-0 Pittsburgh lead unraveled in the ninth as Dennis Santana surrendered back-to-back home runs and a bases-loaded two-run double to José Fermín, allowing St. Louis to rally for a dramatic 4-2 victory.
“It’s not the first time I gave up two homers and it won’t be the last time because I’m going to play for a couple more years," said Santana. "I’ve just got to take it. They’ve got a bat, I’ve got a ball so – and they’re good, too. They won today; tomorrow, we’ll see.”
Santana's velocity was fine, as most of his pitches were higher than his season average but his control, especially on the home runs allowed in the ninth were not as sharp.
The 87-mph slider to Pedro Pagés floated right into his wheelhouse:
And then this 95-mph four-seam fastball almost down the middle of the plate blasted by JJ Wetherholt:
Back to Back Bird Bombs to Tie in the 9th!
JJ Wetherholt's 6th home run is the biggest of his young career. He knots the game up in the 9th following Pedro Pages' homer to get the #STLCards within one. - 408 ft - 100.2 mph exit velo - 33° LApic.twitter.com/fdO3AB2cBR
Santana didn't feel like anything was off while warming up: “Everything’s normal. I went out there, got the first out really quick, one pitch," said Santana. "After that, things escalated a little bit. I tried to stay to the end but they made me pay. It’s OK.”
It is just one game in an otherwise solid season and since arriving in Pittsburgh as he's amassed five blown saves in 24 opportunities.
“Keep pitching. Keep pitching. I’ve been throwing really good since I got here in Pittsburgh," said Santana. "I don’t feel invincible. One day I’m going to get hit; other days, I’m going to hit it, too.”
THE ASYLUM
Santana blows game, ready to bounce back
The Pirates carried a combined no-hitter into the late innings on Monday night, stringing together more than six frames of hitless baseball before the Cardinals broke through with a two-out single in the seventh. However, a 2-0 Pittsburgh lead unraveled in the ninth as Dennis Santana surrendered back-to-back home runs and a bases-loaded two-run double to José Fermín, allowing St. Louis to rally for a dramatic 4-2 victory.
“It’s not the first time I gave up two homers and it won’t be the last time because I’m going to play for a couple more years," said Santana. "I’ve just got to take it. They’ve got a bat, I’ve got a ball so – and they’re good, too. They won today; tomorrow, we’ll see.”
Santana's velocity was fine, as most of his pitches were higher than his season average but his control, especially on the home runs allowed in the ninth were not as sharp.
The 87-mph slider to Pedro Pagés floated right into his wheelhouse:
And then this 95-mph four-seam fastball almost down the middle of the plate blasted by JJ Wetherholt:
Santana didn't feel like anything was off while warming up: “Everything’s normal. I went out there, got the first out really quick, one pitch," said Santana. "After that, things escalated a little bit. I tried to stay to the end but they made me pay. It’s OK.”
It is just one game in an otherwise solid season and since arriving in Pittsburgh as he's amassed five blown saves in 24 opportunities.
“Keep pitching. Keep pitching. I’ve been throwing really good since I got here in Pittsburgh," said Santana. "I don’t feel invincible. One day I’m going to get hit; other days, I’m going to hit it, too.”
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