Roansy Contreras Has First Poor Start, Pittsburgh Pirates Blown Out

Roansy Contreras turned in the first poor start of his MLB career on Friday night as the Pittsburgh Pirates were blown out by the Milwaukee Brewers

After winning back-to-back games, the Pittsburgh Pirates sent budding ace Roansy Contreras to the mound on Friday night to face off against one of the best starting pitchers in baseball in Corbin Burnes. What was expected to be the first of many pitching duels between Contreras and Burnes, unfortunately, did not live up to the hype.

Contreras and the Pirates quickly fell into a big 2nd inning hole, leading to a blow out victory for the Brewers. Things unraveled and the Pirates were defeated by the Brewers 19-2. Following the loss, the Pirates are now 31-46 on the season.

Roansy Contreras turns in his first poor career start

Even the best pitchers in baseball have starts where they just do not have it and get shelled. For young pitchers such as Roansy Contreras, those days may happen more often than anyone would like to see.

Friday night the 22-year-old turned in his first poor MLB start.

Contreras retired the Brewers in order in the 1st inning. Andrew McCutchen recorded a single to start the 2nd inning, this was followed by a Kolten Wong double that Bryan Reynolds should have caught but lost in the sun. At this point things fell apart for Contreras.

Luis Urias hit a home run off of Contreras, making the score 3-0 Brewers. Omar Narvaez hit a solo home run two batters later to make the score 4-0 Brewers. Contreras only got one more out before his night mercifully came to an end.

In 1.2 innings pitched Contreras allowed 7 runs on 5 hits, 3 home runs, 2 walks and a strikeout. Contreras missed spots and allowed too much hard contact in his disastrous 2nd inning. However, if Reynolds would have caught Wong’s double who knows where the inning would have gone.

Starts like this are going to happen. That said, Contreras still appears to be well on his way to becoming a top of the rotation arm for the Pittsburgh Pirates. Even the best have nights like his Friday night.

Pirate bullpen struggles

Lefty Aaron Fletcher walked a batter in 3 hitless, scoreless innings pitched. Outside of Fletcher, the bullpen struggled mightily for the Pittsburgh Pirates on Friday night.

Austin Brice allowed 2 runs on 2 hits and a walk in 2.1 innings pitched. Like Fletcher, Brice failed to record a strikeout. Lefty Cam Vieaux took the ball in the 8th inning and had one of the worst outings you will ever see from a MLB reliever.

Vieaux allowed 8 runs on 6 hits, 3 walks and a grand slam in the inning. All 8 of the Brewer runs were scored before Vieaux even recorded an out. To his credit, he stayed out there and took it on the chin for his team and prevented Derek Shelton from having to go to another reliever in a game that was way off the rails. Josh VanMeter pitched the 9th inning, allowing 2 runs in the process.

Long night for the Pirate offense

Not only did Contreras and the Pirate pitching staff struggle Friday night, it was a long night for the Bucco bats. Facing defending National League Cy Young Award winner Corbin Burnes, the Pittsburgh Pirates were shut down.

Burnes did not allow a hit until the 6th inning when Bligh Madris doubled with one out. Ke’Bryan Hayes, who reached base via walk, would then score on a wild pitch by Burnes. The only other run the Pirates scored game when Oneil Cruz reached on a bases loaded fielder’s choice in the 8th inning.

Hayes, Bryan Reynolds, Hoy Park, and Madris each drew a walk. VanMeter drew a pair of walks, and Cruz hit a double. Jack Suwinski drew a walk and was hit by a pitch, that was it for the Pirate offense.

Saturday afternoon the Pittsburgh Pirates will look to bounce back and put themselves in a position to win the series on Sunday. First pitch from PNC Park, weather permitting, is scheduled for 4:05 PM ET.