Poor defense, bullpen result in Pirates' 7-5 loss to Brewers

PITTSBURGH — Pirates manager Derek Shelton’s club had plenty of opportunities to earn not only another victory, but a series win on Thursday afternoon as well. But continued mistakes in the field, paired with more bullpen struggles, proved to be too much to overcome for the Pirates, who fell, 7-5, to the Brewers at PNC Park.

After watching William Contreras open the scoring in the top of the first inning with a solo home run off Mitch Keller, Joey Bart gave the Pirates their first lead of the day with a three-run blast to center field. Keller held his team’s lead until the top of the third, when a pair of walks to start the frame came back to haunt him.

Jake Bauers knocked home the first run of the inning on a single to right field. The Pirates could have caught Contreras, a runner attempting to take an extra base, down at third. But with the Brewers’ catcher dead to rights, Rowdy Tellez — after cutting off a throw to the plate from Bryan Reynolds — hesitated, allowing both Milwaukee runners to advance 90 feet.

The Brewers needed just one at-bat to capitalize upon mental error, as a single to right field by Rhys Hoskins tied the game. A diving effort from Reynolds nearly stopped the ball from dropping in, but he was unable to complete the catch.

A similar play occurred in the opposite end of the outfield two innings later. With two outs and a runner on second, a fly ball down the left field line served as an opportunity for Keller to escape his final jam of the afternoon. But while Jack Suwinski was able to track the fading liner down, he failed to hang on once his body hit the ground, bringing home the Brewers’ fourth run of the contest.

Perhaps motivated by his drop, Suwinski redeemed himself in the bottom of the fifth, tying the game at four with a double off the Clemente wall which scored Bart. Jared Triolo put the Pirates back ahead the next at-bat, plating Suwinski with a single to right field and chasing Brewers starter Freddy Peralta from the ballgame.

The Pirates maintained their lead until the top of the eighth inning, where with a runner on second and two outs, Aroldis Chapman allowed a two-run, pinch-hit homer to Gary Sanchez, his second home run of the series. Oliver Dunn singled off Roansy Contreras to bring home an insurance run in the top of the ninth.

Jared Koenig earned the win, his first of the season. Chapman was the game’s losing pitcher, falling to 0-2 on the year. Trevor Megill earned the save, his first.

On the mound

While Keller’s defense did not help him, the Pirates ace was far from his best self, allowing four runs, all earned on six hits and a pair of walks while striking out seven in five innings of work. Keller now boasts a 5.14 ERA through five starts in the 2024 season.

At the plate

Bart’s home run traveled 419 feet to center field at 111.1 mph. His big swing was the second furthest and third hardest hit ball by a Pirate this season.