PITTSBURGH (93.7 The Fan) - Jared Jones and Carmen Mlodzinski were rocked by the Athletics in an 11-2 Pirates loss Monday night at Sutter Health Park.
Three hard hit singles to begin the bottom of the first loaded the bases for the Athletics with nobody out. Jared Jones struck out Jacob Wilson for out number one, struck out Carlos Cortes with a high 101 mph heater and struck out Zack Gelof to escape the bases loaded with nobody out unscathed.
Henry Bolte rocketed a one out double to right field in the bottom of the second. Jeff McNeil singled him home to give the Athletics a 1-0 lead. Nick Kurtz took Jones opposite field for a 2-run home run to make it 3-0 Athletics.
Nick Gonzales led off the 4th by reaching on a fielding error by Gelof. Endy Rodriguez singled and Tyler Callihan moved both runners into scoring position on a groundout to first base. Jake Mangum blooped a single into left field to score Gonzales to get the Bucs on the board. Esmerlyn Valdez hit into a 1-4-3 inning ending double play.
Lawrence Butler reached on an infield single. Two batters later McNeil hit a 2-run homer to extend the lead for the Atletics to 5-1.
Jones finished pitching 4 innings, allowing 5 runs on 8 hits. He struck out 4 and walked 1.
"The slider didn't seem as sharp as his last outing. Fastball velo was there but he just didn't have the breaking ball today," said Don Kelly.
Carmen Mlodzinski entered the game in the bottom of the fifth. Tyler Soderstrom singled and Jacob Wilson hit a ground rule double to make it second and third with nobody out. Gelof lined an RBI single into center field and the Athletics took a 6-1 lead headed into the sixth inning.
The Pirates got two runners on with one out in the top of the sixth. Callihan popped up to right field and Mangum grounded out to second to end the threat. Athletics starter J.T. Ginn allowed just one run (unearned) on 6 hits. He pitched 6 innings and struck out 3.
After Gelof reached on an error from Brandon Lowe, Butler added on another run for the Athletics with an RBI double off the top of the left field wall. McNeil got his third hit of the night and drove home another run making it 8-1. Kurtz added on with a 3-run homer to make it a 10 run lead.
Mlodzinski's final line for the game: 3 innings, 7 hits, 6 runs (1 earned), 2 strikeouts. He threw 75 pitches.
"When Jones starts we're gonna need people to fill those innings on the backside. We'll need 3 or 4 guys to do what Carmen did tonight. Carmen only went 3 innings tonight. As we sit here right now I would not anticipate Carmen being slotted in definitely behind Jared next time."
Rodriguez homered in the top of the eighth inning for the Pirates. He went 3 for 3 in the game and reached base 4 times.
The Athletics pounded out 15 hits and homered three times in the win. Kurtz drove in 5 and McNeil drove in 4.
The Pirates have lost 8 of their last 10 and are now below .500 (36-37). They haven't been below .500 since March 31st (2-3).
"We just gotta keep going. It's frustrating when you're going through something like this. A close game yesterday, we had guys on base early today. Everyone feels it. We need someone to come up with a big hit and looking for a big start from Mitch tomorrow."
Game 2 of the series Tuesday night at 9:40. Mitch Keller (5-4, 5.14) vs Jack Perkins (2-3, 6.25).
First time since March 31st the Pirates are below .500
First time since March 31st the Pirates are below .500
