Pirates Let a Feel-Good Win Completely Slip Away

The Pittsburgh Pirates had a chance to turn Monday night into one of the best feel-good wins of the season. Instead, it became another frustrating loss that slipped away late. Alex Stumpf breaks down the Pirates’ 4-2 loss to the Cardinals, where Mason Montgomery, Justin Lawrence, and Wilber Dotel helped carry a near-perfect bullpen game into the seventh inning. Dotel, in particular, looked outstanding and was in line for a memorable night before the ninth inning unraveled. Dennis Santana has been one of the Pirates’ most reliable arms, but this was not his night. Alex discusses what went wrong with Santana’s slider, why this loss stings beyond just one game, and how these missed opportunities are starting to stack up in a tight NL Central race. Plus, Alex looks at the bigger picture: why this Pirates roster feels real, where the concerns still are, and why games like this matter even in April. Subscribe to North Shore Nine for daily Pittsburgh Pirates coverage, analysis, and conversation all season long. Subscribe to Book-Rule Bucs: https://bookrulebucs.substack.com Use Promo Code NS930 for 30% off your first order at https://www.defer.coffee Use Promo Code NORTHSHORENINE for $20 off your first order at https://www.seatgeek.com LIKE and SUBSCRIBE with NOTIFICATIONS ON if you enjoyed the show! NS9 MERCH: https://northshorenine.myshopify.com ►Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/NorthShoreNine ►Website: https://www.northshorenine.com ►Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/northshorenine ►TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@northshorenine ►Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/northshorenine ►Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/northshorenine ►Discord: https://discord.gg/3HVYPg544m #pittsburghpirates Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.