Bad Defense Continues To Burn Pittsburgh Pirates In 9-7 Loss

The Pittsburgh Pirates kicked off a three-game series against a divisional foe on Monday night

On Monday night, the Pittsburgh Pirates and Milwaukee Brewers kicked off a three-game series from PNC Park. Entering the series both teams were struggling, but it would be the Pirate struggles that continued on this night.

Following a 9-7 loss against the Brewers on Monday night, the Pirates are now 48-64 this season. This porous record has been driven by what is now a 4-19 record since the All-Star Break. Not good, folks!

Enter the series, the Brewer offense was struggle. This, however, would change in a hurry. With two outs in the top of the 1st inning Christian Yelich hit a solo home that and Milwaukee quickly had a 1-0 lead.

Pirate killer Mike Moustakas appeared to have hit a home run to lead off the 2nd inning. He was robbed though on an incredible catch by Bryan Reynolds who went over the left field wall reaching into the stands. Reynolds continues to have an incredible rookie season for the Pirates.

Leading off the 4th inning, Moustakas would get in on the home run party. His 27th of the season clear the right-center field wall to give the Brewers a 2-0 lead.

After Agrazal allowed back-to-back singles, Orlando Arcia reached on what was ruled an infield hit. However, it easily could have been an error on Josh Bell. The poor Pirate defense continued when Milwaukee starting pitcher Jordan Lyles grounded out to Colin Moran. Moran needed to go home with the ball to prevent a run from scoring. If he could not make that play, then he needed to start a 5-4-3 double play. Instead, he just threw to first to get only one out and allowing another run to score.

Trent Grisham then ripped a single into center field. The rookie’s hit plated two more runs and gave the Brewers a 5-0 lead.

In the bottom of the 4th inning the Pirates were able to get on the board. Facing Lyles, who the Pirates just traded to Milwaukee last Monday, Reynolds homered to lead off the inning. His 10th home run of the season was the Pirates first hit, and cut the Milwaukee lead to 5-1.

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In 5 innings of work Agrazal allowed 5 run, all of which were earned, on eight hits, two walks, two home runs, and just one strikeout. Agrazal now owns a 4.29 ERA and a 6.69 FIP this season. His inability to miss bats or generate swings-and-misses continues to be a major issue for Agrazal. With each start, Agrazal looks less and less like a MLB quality starting pitcher.

With one out in the bottom half of the 5th inning Kevin Newman singled. Then with two outs Pablo Reyes hit a 2-run pinch hit home run. The first long ball of the season from Reyes cut the Brewer lead to 5-3.

After Michael Feliz pitched a scoreless 6th inning in relief of Agrazal, the newly acquired Drew Pomeranz took the mound for the Brewers in the bottom half of the inning. Reynolds singled off of Pomeranz to start the inning and Jose Osuna doubled with two outs. This put men on second and third with two outs for Melky Cabrera who was summoned to pinch hit for Moran. Cabrera could not capitalize on the opportunity to tie the game, as he went down swinging to end the inning.

Feliz returned to the mound in the 7th inning and pitched a 1-2-3 inning for Clint Hurdle, while striking out the side. In 2 scoreless innings on Monday night Feliz retired six of the seven batters he faced and he struck out five. As a reliever this season, he now owns a 2.95 ERA and a 30.2% strikeout rate. Quietly, he has been very good as a relief pitcher.

Francisco Liriano got Moustakas to ground out to start the 8th inning. Unfortunately, Adam Frazier dropped the ball leading to an error and Moustakas reaching base. After back-to-back singles by Lorenzo Cain and Eric Thames, the Brewer lead had grown to 6-3 and they had runners on the corners with no one out. A single by Arcia and a sacrifice fly by Grisham ran the score to 8-3 Milwaukee.

Even though it was not completely his doing, Liriano failed to record an out in the 8th inning. Geoff Hartlieb would relief him and get the inning’s three outs, including a strikeout, to clean up the mess.

Facing Freddy Peralta in the bottom of the 8th, Bell and Osuna walked, Cabrera singled, and then Newman doubled in all three runners. This cut the Milwaukee lead to 8-6 as the game headed to the 9th inning.

Just when it appeared the Pirates were back into the game, they decided to play one of their favorite game – give runs back. Yelich led off the 9th inning with his second home run of the game and NL leading 39th of the season. This mammoth shot off of Hartlieb that landed in the Allegheny River made the score 9-6 Brewers.

Facing the flame throwing Josh Hader in the 9th inning the Pirates would go down swinging against Hader. With two outs Reynolds ripped a 108.2 MPH doubled off of Hader, and this was followed by 107.7 MPH missile for a triple that cut the Milwaukee lead to 9-7. Bell then popped out to end the game.

Throughout the season bad defense has been a staple for the Pirates. Bad defense played a big role in the Pirates losing to the Brewers on Monday night. Hopefully, there will be some shakes up to the Pirate coaching staff this offseason in an effort to get their defensive woes fixed.

Next. 3 Takeaways From Series Loss vs Mets. dark

The second game of the series is scheduled for 7:05 on Tuesday night. Steven Brault (4.15 ERA, 4.54 FIP) will make the start for the Pirates in his return from the injured list as he looks to continue to hot streak he was on before getting injured. Craig Counsell and the Brewers will counter with veteran righty Chase Anderson (3.73 ERA, 4.31 FIP).

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