Tough Game for the Bucs 
Well, fellow Pirates fans, it's been a tough one today. The Cardinals managed to take us down 7-4, despite some solid moments from our squad. Let's break down the action.Early Inning Struggles 
We started strong on defense with a clean first inning thanks to our pitching. Unfortunately, our bats couldn't find their rhythm early. Andrew McCutchen, Bryan Reynolds, and Oneil Cruz all faced setbacks in their plate appearances. It was a disappointing start, but we kept our heads up.Cardinals Take the Lead 
The third inning was a bit of a nightmare. With Masyn Winn hitting a ground rule double and Alec Burleson launching a homer, the Cards took a 2-0 lead. Things got worse in the fourth when Nolan Gorman hit a grand slam to make it 6-0. Ouch! 
A Glimmer of Hope 
The fifth inning gave us a bit of a boost. Rowdy Tellez and Nick Gonzales set the stage before Jack Suwinski crushed a three-run homer, making it 6-3. That was followed by a solo homer from our captain Andrew McCutchen! That brought us to 6-4. Let's go Bucs! 
Cardinals Extend Their Lead 
The Cardinals' Paul Goldschmidt and Brendan Donovan teamed up in the seventh to add another run, extending their lead to 7-4. Our bullpen did a commendable job, but we couldn't prevent that extra insurance run.Final Push Falls Short 
Despite our late efforts, the Cardinals' bullpen proved too strong. We just couldn’t generate enough offense in the latter innings. McCutchen, Reynolds, and Cruz all fought hard but ultimately couldn't catch a break.Looking Forward 
Even though we didn't come away with the win, there were some bright spots. Jack Suwinski and Andrew McCutchen showed their pop, and our bullpen had its moments. Let's keep the faith and come back stronger next game. Let’s go Bucs! 
That's all for now, Pirates fans. Keep cheering loud and proud!
Scoreboard for Cardinals @ Pirates (July 2nd, 2024)
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | R | H | E | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 7 | 1 |
| 0 | 0 | 2 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 7 | 13 | 0 |