Mason Montgomery found himself in two separate 3-2 counts in the eighth inning and couldn't deliver that knockout blow in the Pirates' 6-4 loss to the Reds here tonight at PNC Park.
He was one strike away from retiring SalStewart for the second out of the inning before Stewart sent an inside fastball into left field for a single. One batter later, Montgomery was in another 3-2 count when he left a 97 mph sinker at the bottom of the zone:
HOME RUN: Noelvi Marte sends a 3-2 fastball on a line into the seats beyond left field. Two-run shot off Mason Montgomery here in the eighth. Reds, 6-4 -- From José Negron in Pittsburghpic.twitter.com/MllbCzspCw
NoelviMarte made him pay for that lack of execution, turning a tie game into a two-run lead the Reds refused to relinquish.
"Two-strike pitch, 3-2 middle down, and he found a way to get to it," DonKelly said. "Swung through it, I think the pitch before was the same, just maybe a little bit different location, and he got to that one."
So much has been said about the bullpen issues this season, but Montgomery seemed to be one of the more reliable arms in the early going of the season. That was especially the case in the month of April when he allowed just three runs over 11 innings, striking out 17 batters and walking four. The numbers weren't as good in the month of May, as he allowed six runs (five earned) in 9 2/3 innings, but hitters only batted .222 against him.
This month has been a different story. Montgomery has been hit hard and often, allowing seven runs on 11 hits in 8 2/3 innings. In more than a few of those cases, including this past weekend in Denver, he put himself in tough situations and failed to execute a pitch in a moment that could change the complexion of a game.
THE ASYLUM
Montgomery can't overcome falling behind
Mason Montgomery found himself in two separate 3-2 counts in the eighth inning and couldn't deliver that knockout blow in the Pirates' 6-4 loss to the Reds here tonight at PNC Park.
He was one strike away from retiring Sal Stewart for the second out of the inning before Stewart sent an inside fastball into left field for a single. One batter later, Montgomery was in another 3-2 count when he left a 97 mph sinker at the bottom of the zone:
Noelvi Marte made him pay for that lack of execution, turning a tie game into a two-run lead the Reds refused to relinquish.
"Two-strike pitch, 3-2 middle down, and he found a way to get to it," Don Kelly said. "Swung through it, I think the pitch before was the same, just maybe a little bit different location, and he got to that one."
So much has been said about the bullpen issues this season, but Montgomery seemed to be one of the more reliable arms in the early going of the season. That was especially the case in the month of April when he allowed just three runs over 11 innings, striking out 17 batters and walking four. The numbers weren't as good in the month of May, as he allowed six runs (five earned) in 9 2/3 innings, but hitters only batted .222 against him.
This month has been a different story. Montgomery has been hit hard and often, allowing seven runs on 11 hits in 8 2/3 innings. In more than a few of those cases, including this past weekend in Denver, he put himself in tough situations and failed to execute a pitch in a moment that could change the complexion of a game.
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