MILWAUKEE — Just when it seemed like the Pirates had life — and a hit — in a key situation, it was gone. And so was the game.
In the ninth inning of Friday’s game against the Brewers at American Life Field, the Pirates got a rare hit with runners on base, as Daniel Vogelbach singled into the gap in right-center field.
As Diego Castillo came around to score easily, Kevin Newman tried to score as well but was thrown out by Andrew McCutchen, tossing a relay throw to Willy Adames and ultimately Victor Caratini, the Pirates suffering a 4-3 loss.
It was a crushing way to go for a Pirates club that has struggled to get key hitters with runners in scoring position all season and ranks at the bottom of the league in batting average (.200) and OPS (.617) with runners in scoring position.
The Pirates also had a chance to do some damage in the eighth inning, getting two runners on with one out. But Ben Gamel struck out and Yoshi Tsutsugo popped out to third base to end it.
For the Pirates their margin for error has been razor thin, which may explain the need to force the issue like they did with Newman. It will also help when they’re able to score more than two or three runs per game.
Pittsburgh has now scored two or fewer runs in five of eight games thus far in July, the Pirates’ lack of offense contributing to an overall record of 34-50.
Against the Brewers, JT Brubaker experienced his own version of a slim margin for error, as he alternated between solid and wild in walking a season-high five.
Although only one of those scored, the intermittent loss of control likely squandered the opportunity for Brubaker to get outs. It also hurt him a couple times when he got ahead in count.
Brubaker’s there-and-gone control was exemplified in the first couple innings of Friday’s start. Following a 1-2-3 first inning, Brubaker gave up a leadoff single and issued two walks to load the bases with one out in the second.
Designated hitter Keston Hiura made Brubaker pay when he bounced an 0-2 pitch — a slider that caught too much of the plate — through the left side to give Milwaukee a 1-0 lead.
Pittsburgh answered, and took the lead, with another rookie home run in the fourth, this time a two-run shot from Diego Castillo. In an 0-2 hole, Castillo golfed a slider from Aaron Ashby into the Brewers bullpen in left-center for his 10th of the season.
It was Castillo’s fifth homer in his last eight road games and seventh in his previous 18 overall (dating back to June 18). Only Phillies outfielder Kyle Schwarber (9) has more home runs among National League hitters during that time.
Coupled with Jack Suwinski’s 14 homers, the Pirates now have two rookies with 10 or more long balls before the All-Star break for the first time in franchise history.
Their lead Friday, however, was short-lived, as Brubaker once again followed a 1-2-3 inning (the third) with more walks and lapses in control.
The Brewers tied the game at 2 when Brubaker walked the leadoff man, McCutchen, and gave up a triple to second baseman Kolten Wong. Similar to Hiura’s single, it came on a slider that was a little too juicy for an 0-2 count, the lefty Wong hooking it into the right-field corner.
Two more free passes loaded the bases before right fielder Jace Peterson shot another Brubaker slider into center, handing the Brewers a 3-2 advantage.
As the Pirates offense remained stuck in neutral, Milwaukee increased its lead to 4-2 with shortstop Adames' solo homer off Yerry De Los Santos to open the seventh inning. No MLB team has more home runs from that position than the Brewers (21), which is obviously helped by Adames' 17 on the season.
While the lack of offense was obviously discouraging, the Pirates did have a few positive things happen in the field. They got an outstanding defensive play from Suwinski in left, the outfielder running down a ball, turning and throwing to prevent Hiura from stretching a single into a double in the sixth inning.
Furthermore, Manny Banuelos — who struggled mightily and allowed five earned runs in 1/3 of an inning during his Pirates debut on Wednesday — had a much better second time out, the left-hander striking out two during a scoreless sixth. After throwing out his first runner Thursday, Jason Delay picked off McCutchen in the seventh inning Friday with another strong throw.
