been that kinda year

Alex Presley made the final out in Homer Bailey’s no-hitter on Friday night, a fitting footnote in a tough year for the former Ole Miss standout. Presley went 0-for-4 in Pittsburgh’s 1-0 loss to Cincinnati, dropping his average to .236 in 100 games. He does have 10 home runs and seven triples, but he also has 71 strikeouts and just 18 walks. In sum, it has not been the kind of season the Pirates were hoping to get from Presley after he hit .298 in 52 games in 2011. The job as left fielder and leadoff batter was his for the taking this spring, but he wound up back in the minors after a slow start. The left-handed hitting Presley has gotten regular playing time again lately but is batting just .214 over his last 10 games. The Pirates, after another second-half collapse, figure to make some changes in the off-season. Presley could be on shaky ground. There are a bunch of other outfielders in the fold, including superstar Andrew McCutchen, Jose Tabata, Travis Snider and touted prospect Starling Marte. P.S. Ex-Rebels star Zack Cozart had a hand in the only run the Reds scored in Bailey’s no-no. Cozart’s first-inning single moved Brandon Phillips from second to third and Phillips then scored on a Todd Frazier sac fly. … Meridian Community College alumnus Cliff Lee got another no-decision (No. 15 this year) in Philadelphia’s 2-1 loss to Miami. The Phillies were officially eliminated from playoff contention. Lee is 6-8 with a 3.12 ERA.