Forgive me if you have heard this script before: The Pittsburgh Pirates’ offense comes together and solves a pitcher in the seventh inning, only to immediately blow the momentum. It happened against the Milwaukee Brewers on Friday night, just over 24 hours from when the same thing happened against the Detroit Tigers.
Predictably, the outcome was similar, and the Pirates lost to the Brewers, 8-4.
This defeat drops the Pirates to 5-6, their first time under .500 in 2016. The losses have piled up after starting the season on a high with an opening series sweep of the St. Louis Cardinals, but Pittsburgh has struggled against three teams that had sub-.500 records in 2015.
Here are three key takeaways:
1. Jeff Locke did not cost the Pirates this game
Look, Jeff Locke (0-1) walked seven batters, I get it. His control was not there, and he did not locate pitches. But he is not the reason for this loss. (And this is coming from a person who does not feel Locke should even be in the rotation.)
Manager Clint Hurdle conceded Locke missed location several times, but he certainly was not the only pitcher to struggle to locate. Although Locke could not pitch the entire five innings, he still did what he needed to do. The walks, many of which came against leadoff batters, did not hurt his final line all that much. And, more importantly, he kept the team in this game, allowing three runs and two earned.
Something similar happened to Francisco Liriano in Cincinnati, and he did not get the same kind of backlash. Things could have been a lot worse for Locke, and they tend to be with him on a major league mound. Still, all credit to Locke, he grinded without his best stuff.
Cut the man a break.
2. Villar fielding decision fuels Pirates comeback
The Brewers were up 5-0 and appeared well on their way to an easy win.
Then came a harmless ground ball that was hit by Jordy Mercer. Josh Harrison, who walked to lead off the seventh inning, broke for second base on the play. Shortstop Jonathan Villar decided to try for the double play, but Harrison was ruled safe at second, and Scooter Gennett could not throw the ball cleanly to first, so both runners were safe.
One pitch later, Matt Joyce rounded the bases for his second-career pinch-hit home run. Jimmy Nelson (2-0), the Brewers starter was visibly frustrated with the result, and it ended his night.
It seemed as though Villar’s decision — try and be the hero and make the stellar play rather than taking the lone out — rattled the Brewers. The Pirates came extremely close to making Villar pay for that bad judgement call, but Francisco Cervelli struck out with the tying run on second base.
While it did not matter by the end of the game, such a simple decision could have drastically altered the game.
3. Bullpen falters again
For a second consecutive game, Hurdle called on a set-up man to hold onto a one-run lead. Instead, Neftali Feliz allowed multiple runs, the first earned runs of his season. Feliz appeared to be cruising through his outing, setting down the first two batters he faced, but a Villar single followed by Ryan Braun’s second homer effectively ended the game.
Kyle Lobstein was rock-lobstered once again by a 460-foot home run off Braun’s bat in the sixth inning, and Lobstein was almost victimized once more in the seventh on a deep Chris Carter fly ball. It took a herculean effort from Starling Marte to record the out.
The Pirates bullpen entered the game with a 5.11 ERA. On Friday alone, it was 10.98.
Pittsburgh’s relief pitchers are missing pitches up in the zone, and opponents are capitalizing.
This does not appear to be a one-time thing, and it is a troubling sign.
Up next
This three-game series continues Saturday with Jonathon Niese (1-0 5.73 ERA) on the mound for the Pirates, taking on Taylor Jungmann (0-1 11.57 ERA). Niese is 2-1 with a 4.50 ERA in eight career starts against the Brewers.
Image credit: Jonathan Satriale / WEBN-TV
