In their final home contest of the season, the Pirates served one more slice of disappointment to their fans, losing 5-2 to the Brewers Thursday afternoon at PNC Park.

Right-hander Mitch Keller was the game’s losing pitcher, bringing his end-of-season record to 11-12 over 31 starts, one fewer than he made last year. Keller surrendered three runs, all earned, over five innings on six hits and a pair of walks while striking out six. He ends his 2024 campaign with a 4.25 ERA over 178 innings pitched, 16 ⅓ fewer than his season total in 2023. His 166 strikeouts also showed a notable regression compared to the year prior (210).

"I think he got better in certain areas,” manager Derek Shelton said of Keller’s season. “I think there's consistency that we need to see throughout the course of the season."

“There's definitely a lot of highlights up there and definitely a lot of lowlights,” Keller said when asked for his own analysis. “But overall, a lot of good things to look back on and a lot of things to keep working for. I don't know, it's weird. I'm happy with it and also disappointed in some areas too, so a lot more I can do for myself and a lot more I can do for this team going into next year for sure.”

Brice Turang plated Milwaukee’s first run in the top of the third inning, driving home Joey Ortiz on a ground out to first base. He struck again in the fifth, singling home Eric Haase, who reached on an RBI double the prior at-bat.

Brewers’ starter Aaron Civale, meanwhile, continued his season of dominance against the Pirates, allowing just three hits and a walk over six shutout innings. Civale allowed just two earned runs over 17 ⅓ innings in his three starts against Pittsburgh this year, good for a 1.04 ERA. The game’s winning pitcher, he finished the regular season with a record of 8-9.

"It goes back to even the Rays start he had against us,” Shelton said of Civale. “This guy, he has an idea to pitch. He's able to add and subtract. He throws the cutter. He mixes the fastball, he takes something off the fastball. He mixes in the breaking ball. He's got feel to pitch. I think since he's been with the Brewers over his last seven starts, he's 6-1 or 7-1. He's got an idea of what he's doing."

After watching Milwaukee tag the Pirates bullpen for a pair of additional runs in the top of the sixth, Bryan De La Cruz put his club on the board following Civale’s exit, tagging Nick Mears for a two-run homer to right field in the bottom of the seventh. The homer marked De La Cruz’s 21st of the season but just his third since he was traded to the Pirates on July 30.

On the mound

Ryan Borucki replaced Keller to start the sixth inning. Having struggled throughout September due to a season heavily impacted by injuries, Thursday was no different for the veteran left-hander, who allowed a pair of runs before being pulled with two outs remaining in the frame.

Colin Holderman replaced Borucki, allowing one inherited runner to score. David Bednar, Carmen Mlodzinski, and Jalen Beeks then finished the game, each throwing a scoreless inning of relief.

At the plate

De La Cruz’s homer was the lone notable offense for the Pirates on Thursday afternoon. Pittsburgh ended the loss with just five hits. Nick Gonzales was the only Pirate with a multi-hit game, notching a pair of singles, along with two walks.

On the bases

Oneil Cruz had an afternoon to forget on the bases, making a pair of inning-ending mistakes. His first blunder came in the bottom of the third inning, when he was picked off at first base after reaching on a fielder’s choice. The next came in the bottom of the eighth, when he was tagged out at second after overrunning the bag.

"He's got to be more aware,” Shelton said. “It's unacceptable. We know Cruzy's immensely talented, but there's times we've got to pay more attention on the bases."

They said it

The Pirates finished their home schedule with a record of 39-42, the same as the year prior.

"I think that's very important,” Shelton said. “In your division and home are the two places you've really got to focus."

Up next

Friday: Pirates at Yankees, 7:05 p.m., Yankee Stadium

Probable pitchers: RHP Jared Jones (6-8, 4.14) for Pirates; LHP Carlos Rodon (16-9, 3.98) for Yankees.

Key matchup: Jones has lost his last three decisions on the road since winning for the last time on May 16 at Chicago.

Hidden stat: Jones ranks fourth among National League rookies in strikeouts (125).

Saturday: Pirates at Yankees, 1:05 p.m., Yankee Stadium

Probable pitchers: RHP Paul Skenes (11-3, 1.99) for Pirates; RHP Luis Gil (15-6, 3.27) for Yankees.

______

©2024 PG Publishing Co. Visit at post-gazette.com. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.