Pittsburgh Pirates: Pitching Implodes in Loss Against the Phillies

Despite jumping out to a 6-0 lead on Thursday night the Pittsburgh Pirates fell to the Philadelphia Phillies in opening game of their four-game series

Entering play on Thursday night the Pittsburgh Pirates had been playing some of their strongest baseball of the season. In their last 10 series played the Pirates are 6-2-2 and they entered Thursday night 15-15 in their last 30 games played.

Early on the Pittsburgh Pirates appeared to be well on their way to kicking off their four-game series against the Philadelphia Phillies with a victory that would have put the team over .500 in their last 31 games played. However, despite jumping out to an early 6-0 lead the team’s pitching imploded on their way to a 12-6 loss. With the loss, the Pirates are now 57-95 on the season.

This loss actually made history for the Pittsburgh Pirates. It marked the first time in the 134 year history of the Pittsburgh Baseball Club that they led a game by 6 runs and then proceeded to lose by at least 6 runs.

Pirates grab an early lead

Colin Moran singled to start the 2nd inning, Cole Tucker singled with one out and Kevin Newman walked to load the bases. With the bases loaded and one out Michael Perez struck out and the Pirates appeared to be in trouble.

Making his second career start Pirate opener Connor Overton then blooped a 2-run single into right field. This plated Moran and Tucker, giving the Pittsburgh Pirates a 2-0 lead. This lead quickly grew to 5-0 when Ke’Bryan Hayes hit a 3-run home run, his 6th home run of the season.

In the top of the 3rd inning the Pirate lead would grow. The lead grew when Moran hit a solo home run. The 9th home run of the season for Moran extended the Pirate lead to 6-0 and it appeared to be full steam ahead on a Pirate victory.

Unfortunately, due to the Pirate pitching, as we will get to later, this was not the case. The offense failing to score after the 3rd inning did not help the team’s cause either.

Pirate pitching implodes

Overton started the night with 2 scoreless innings pitched. This extended his scoreless inning streak to start his MLB career to 13.2 innings pitched. In the 3rd inning things started to go south for Overton as the wheels fell off the cart.

Didi Gregorius homered off of Overton to start the 3rd inning, cutting the Pirate lead to 6-1. With one out Overton issued a walk, allowed a double and threw a pitch that easily could have been ruled a wild pitch, but went as a passed ball, setting up a sacrifice fly for Jean Segura.

Following the Segura sac fly the Pittsburgh Pirates still led 6-2 with two outs in the 3rd inning and it appeared Overton would potentially wiggle off the hook without any further damage. Instead, after issuing a walk to Bryce Harper Overton was lifted for Cody Ponce.

Ponce started his night out by allowing a double to Andrew McCutchen and a single to Brad Miller. While Ponce would then record the final out of the inning it was not before the Phillies cut a one time 6-0 Pirate lead to just 6-5.

Overall, Overton allowed 4 runs on 2 hits, 2 walks, a home run and 4 strikeouts in 2.2 innings of work. Ponce followed a run on 2 hits and 2 strikeouts in 1.1 innings pitched, this included allowing an inherited runner to score.

Anthony Banda pitched 1.2 innings allowing 3 runs on 3 hits, 2 walks and a home run. Nick Mears followed by striking out the lone batter he faced. Chad Kuhl struck out 3 in his lone inning of work.. but he also allowed a 2-run home run. Enyel De Los Santos then, mercifully, ended the night for Pirate pitching by issuing a walk and allowing 2 runs on 3 hits in his lone inning of work.

What’s next?

The second game of the series will see Kyle Gibson (3.51 ERA, 3.81 FIP) take the mound for the Phillies. The Pirate starter for Friday night is still TBD. First pitch from Citizen’s Bank Park is scheduled for 7:05 PM ET.