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| Offensive woes continue for Pirates |
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| Written by Marc Aceves / Patterson Irrigator | |
| Wednesday, 30 July 2008 | |
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“The whole team is slumping right now. We’ve talked about it, and we’re working on it.” — Mark Gonzalez, Pirates player
Pirates coach Jose Garza insisted that his team’s offensive slump is no recent phenomenon.  Patterson batter Drew Barret makes contact Sunday. Photo by Elias Funez / Patterson Irrigator The Pirates were shut out for the second consecutive game, losing 5-0 to the Stockton Aztecs at Garza Park on Sunday. It was also Patterson’s third straight loss. “Offensively, we’ve basically been struggling for a longer period than what we think,” outfielder Tino Ramirez said. “We’ve been able to win some baseball games, but we haven’t been scoring runs with the proficiency we were earlier in the season.” Ramirez could have included the team’s defense as another culprit. Patterson committed six errors, allowing the Aztecs’ runners to carousel into scoring position. While the game was still in doubt, the Pirates’ hitters failed again. Patterson’s lineup was retired in order in four of the first six innings and stranded a total of eight runners. “We know that if we don’t start hitting the ball, then we aren’t going to score any runs,” Patterson’s Mark Gonzalez said. “The whole team is slumping right now. We’ve talked about it, and we’re working on it.” Pirates pitcher Drew Barrett kept the Aztecs off the scoreboard until the fourth inning. In the fourth, Stockton made the most of two walks and a passed ball, plating its first two runs of the game on a pair of RBI singles to center field. The Aztecs added to their lead in the top of the sixth inning with four hits, including an RBI double, to increase the Pirates’ deficit to 3-0. A sacrifice fly to left field in the seventh inning and another RBI single in the eighth gave the Aztecs a commanding 5-0 lead. Still, the Pirates managed to string together a rally in the bottom of the eighth inning.  Photo by Elias Funez / Patterson Irrigator Patterson’s James Pease cracked a leadoff single to center field. Ramirez followed with a single past a diving Aztecs shortstop, putting the Pirates in business with only one out, and Gonzalez beat out a fielder’s choice to load the bases. But it clearly was not the Pirates’ day, as all three runners were left aboard. Patterson’s Rudy Lozano led off the bottom of the ninth inning with a double to center field, but once again, the Pirates’ bats fell silent. “We’re a little frustrated with the way things are going right now,” Pease said. “The balls just aren’t dropping in for us, or it seems as if we are always hitting it right at someone. “We just need to get together and take some extra batting practice, and everything should be all right.” To reach Marc Aceves at the Irrigator, call 892-6187 or e-mail him at This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it
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