The Pittsburgh Pirates have “earned” their 20th consecutive
losing season.
They lost their 82nd game of the 2012 season in the 9th
against the NL Central champion Cincinnati Reds. Pirates closer
Joel Hanrahan gave up a game tying homerun to Reds pinch hitter
Xavier Paul and game winning double by Reds rookie Zack Cozart. The
Bucs lost 4-3.
Two months ago, there was so much hope as the Pirates were
playing near .600 ball and had a share of the NL Wild Card. Since
July 28th, the Bucs have gone 19-40. They
sank below .500 ten days ago and have lost eight of eleven
since.
The Bucs last winning season came in 1992 when they won their
third consecutive NL East title. They were three outs away from
going to the World Series in Game 7 of the NLCS against the Atlanta
Braves when Pittsburgh native and ex-Buc Sid Bream
made his mad dash to home.
Well, the Pirates will have to wait until next year…again.
