PITTSBURGH (93.7 The Fan) – A day after scoring the most runs of the season, the Pirates (6-12) were shutout for the third time this season and second in three games. Washington evened up the series with a 3-0 final Tuesday night.
The Pirates got ONE batter to second base, that was Jack Suwinski with no outs in the fifth inning, but Adam Frazier flew out and Isiah Kiner-Falefa hit into a double play.
“(Monday) night we were aggressive and we hit the fastball,” said Pirates manager Derek Shelton. “Tonight we did not. We have to have more consistent at bats.”
Mitch Keller was done in by a little bad luck, after slightly missing on a 2-2 pitch, leadoff hitter James Wood hit the next pitch for a 445-foot home run for a 1-0 lead. In the sixth after two outs, a pitch got away from Keller and hit Paul DeJong in the nose. DeJong was able to walk off the field, but left the game with blood all over his face. He was getting a CT scan after the game with no results yet. Keller said he feels sick about that happening and hopes he’s ok.
The next batter would single and on a 2-2 pitch with two outs, Nasim Nunez broke his bat but it had enough for the ball to dump into centerfield for two RBI.
“I felt pretty good about everything,” Keller said. “Obviously just want to finish without either of those two runs scoring. Overall, I felt like I threw well. I threw good quality pitches. It's just the game of baseball.”
“I thought he was really good,” Shelton said. “He gave up the homer early, other than that, I thought he mixed and matched. Overall, I thought he threw the ball well. We just didn’t get him any support.”
Keller would go six innings, six hits, three earned runs, two walks, a hit batter and three strikeouts. Suwinski had half of the Bucs four hits, Henry Davis and Tommy Pham the other two. The Pirates struck out 10 times.
The Bucs also had a couple of defensive gaffes only one an official error, but miscommunication, a couple of times involving Jack Suwinski in left and another on a botched bunt defensive play by Enmanuel Valdez.
“We got to clean that up,” Shelton said. “I don’t know what it is. I got to get with Terrick Brock and get with those guys and find out what actually happened. Mayza gave up five outs in the ninth. We got to catch that ball when it’s hit.”
First base
Jared Triolo started his rehab assignment in AAA working back from a back injury and homered in his first at bat for Indianapolis. Until Triolo is ready, the Pirates will use Enmanuel Valdez and Adam Frazier at first base with Endy Rodriguez on the injured list with a lacerated index finger.
Reynolds in the OF
Still dealing with a shoulder issue, Bryan Reynolds remains the designated hitter, but Shelton said he’s in the middle of a throwing program and ‘it’s gone extremely well’. He has yet to throw to the bases and had not taken any infield. That is the next hurdle to jump. There is a chance to see more of Andrew McCutchen than expected in the field going forward.
Up Next
First left-handers of the series, Bailey Falter (0-2, 7.20 ERA) vs. Mitchell Parker with the North Shore Tavern Leadoff Show at 5:45 and first pitch on 93.7 The Fan at 6:40p.