PITTSBURGH (93.7 The Fan) – Tuesday against the White Sox the Pirates took advantage of their opportunities, Wednesday afternoon leaving eight on base in a 4-3 loss to Chicago.
The biggest missed opportunity in the fifth as Adam Frazier singled, Ke’Bryan Bayes walked with no outs. Bryan Reynolds hit it hard, but right at the shortstop for a double play and then Colin Moran grounded out with Frazier on third.
Moran popped out and flew out with two runners on and one out in a pair of other plate appearances.
“He’s in a little bit of a tough stretch,” Shelton said of Moran. “It looks like he’s a little bit in-between. I think that has to do a little bit with timing. We need to get him back on the fastball because he looks a little bit in-between.”
Since returning from his back injury, Moran is 6 for 32 with one extra base hit and two RBI. In his last 20 games, the first baseman has only four RBI.
De Jong mixed
Starter Chase De Jong allowed at least a base runner in every inning but one and hit hard giving up two runs in the second. Also giving up a pair of runs in the fifth and leaving with two outs in the inning.
“We battled hard,” De Jong said. “That’s a good club over there. Didn’t really have a great tempo working (early) and I think (Pirates pitching coach) Oscar (Marin) came out and told me that. Made a good adjustment and stepped on the gas a little more. Threw a lot of swing and miss pitches, that is good. Trying to manage my pitch count a little better to cover more innings and give our team a chance to win.”
“He flirted in and out of the zone with his breaking ball and with his fastball at times,” said Pirates manager Derek Shelton. “Overall he executed pitches. He left one pitch obviously in the middle of the plate, the 3-2 pitch to Grandal, which cost us two runs.”
It was the 27-year-old righty’s fifth MLB start in 2021 (4.2 IP, 7 hits, 4 runs, 2 walks, 6 strikeouts), previously giving up 9 runs in 19 innings with 9 walks and 17 strikeouts.
Bucs drop to 20 games under .500 with the loss.
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Pirates open a four game series at St. Louis at 8:15p on 93.7 The Fan Thursday. Chad Kuhl (1-4, 5.66 ERA) against RHP Carlos Martinez (3-8. 6.62 ERA). Wil Crowe to start Friday, JT Brubaker on Saturday and TBA on Sunday.