Pirates squander early lead in frustrating loss to Diamondbacks

PHOENIX — Without their best hitter for a key series, the Pittsburgh Pirates did their best to overcome Bryan Reynolds’ absence in the lineup. And while early on it looked as though Derek Shelton’s club would be able to get by without their All-Star outfielder, in the end, the Pirates looked to be one solid bat away from victory Friday evening, falling by a final score of 4-3 at Chase Field.

Through the first five innings, the Pirates looked to be well in control. They plated two runs in the first inning and additional run in the second. Luis Ortiz took the hill for the bottom of the sixth with a 3-1 lead, coming off a perfect frame. But matched up against the heart of Arizona’s order for the third time of the evening, the Diamondbacks finally got the best of the 25-year-old right-hander.

Joc Pederson led off with a towering home run to right field, just the fourth long ball Ortiz has surrendered this season. Christian Walker followed Pederson’s blast with a walk, putting the tying run on first base.

Shelton turned to rookie reliever Carmen Mlodzinski to keep his team’s lead, but the move was unsuccessful. Mlodzinski allowed back-to-back singles to begin his outing, the second by Gabriel Moreno scored Walker to tie the game. Moreno would come around to score not long after on a wild pitch, putting the defending National League champs ahead for good.

The Pirates had opportunities to respond. Joey Bart and Michael A. Taylor both drew a walk to lead off the seventh inning, chasing Diamondbacks starter Zac Gallen, the game’s winning pitcher, from the contest. But Arizona’s bullpen had the better evening.

Torey Lovullo called upon Kevin Ginkel to get his club out of the jam. After falling behind 3-0 to Andrew McCutchen, the right-hander battled back to strike out the Pirates’ veteran with three-straight fastballs. He then punched out Oneil Cruz with three more heaters the next at-bat. Nick Gonzales bounced into a fielder’s choice to end the frame.

The Pirates found themselves in a similar position the following inning, as Joshua Palacios and Ke’Bryan Hayes both reached base to put the tying and go-head runs on with only one out. However, a fielder's choice from Jack Suwinski and a strikeout from Joey Bart resulted in another zero.

Cruz briefly kept the Pirates chances alive with a two out single to center field in the ninth inning. But with the tying run once again on base, Diamondbacks closer Paul Sewald didn’t budge, striking out Nick Gonzales to record his 16th save on the season.

On the mound

Ortiz was solid, but not as dominant as he looked in recent outings. Efficiency was a bit of a struggle for the right-hander, as he needed 74 pitches to complete his first four frames.

An efficient fifth inning perhaps served as a selling point for Shelton to allow Ortiz to come back out for the sixth. But with his tank near empty up, the heart of the Diamondbacks’ order capitalized.

After allowing just one run in his first five innings, Ortiz allowed both batters he faced to come around and score. He finished his work day having allowed three total runs, all earned, on five hits and three walks while striking out four.

At the plate

Palacios opened the scoring with a single to right field, which scored McCutchen and Gonzales. The former started the game with a walk while the latter reached on a single to left-center. McCutchen remained involved the next inning, doubling home Bart to give his team a 3-0 lead.

But after some early success, the Pirates’ bats went quiet. Shelton’s club tallied just two hits in the final seven innings. And while a few runners managed to reach base via walk or hit by pitch, the big hit never came to either further build upon the lead, or even the score after Arizona went ahead.

Injury news

Pirates first baseman Rowdy Tellez exited the game after the third inning due to back spasms. The Pirates announced that he was examined and treated by the medical staff. His status is day-to-day. Tellez went hitless in his two at-bats Friday evening.