Pirates Not Catching A Break/Capitalizing As Of Late

During the stretch in April where the Pirates were overachieving above all expectations, the one thing that had been solid was their starting pitching. However, during their current slide, it has been their pitching that just can't seem to catch a break.

It all started on what looked like a beautiful night for baseball in Atlanta, Georgie back on May 21st at Truist Park. Tyler Anderson took the mound having a strong season, as he looked to be a stopper for the Pirates and get them back on track. However, it wasn't meant to be, as Anderson was tagged for nine earned runs, including three home runs, in what was a horrific 20-1 loss for the team. Since then, the Pittsburgh Pirates pitchers, and particularly their starting pitchers, have not seemed to catch a break. Over the last seven days, the Pirates starter's ERA has been the worst in baseball at 8.65, and the team as a whole has allowed a combined 37 total runs.

The Pirates were hoping to start a new against the Chicago Cubs with the start of a new series and a new pitcher on the mound. Cody Ponce was making his first start of the 2021 season, and through the first three innings looked really good. His only mistake came on a slider that moved over the middle of the plate and got crushed by Joc Pederson for a solo home run. However, his team scored him three early runs, so Ponce was still staked to a 3-1 lead. However, the Pirates would once again be struck by bad luck as the Cub's offense unloaded for three runs in the fifth. However, all three runs that were allowed by Ponce came on two pitches that were actually pretty good. Today, we look at what went wrong for Ponce and the Pirates, and how bad luck and a few missed locations have downed a once decent-looking starting rotation.

Cubs Find Some Luck At The Plate

Through the first four innings of the game, Cody Ponce was looking really good on the mound. He had allowed just five hits to that point, and the only extra-base hit he had allowed was the solo home run to Pederson back in the third. He got PJ Higgins to fly out to start the fifth, but then allowed a single to Jake Arietta to turn over the lineup. Pederson was back at the plate and initially, Ponce got ahead of him 1-2 and was looking for a strikeout pitch. He ended up throwing an 83 mile per hour slider that was dropping out of the strike zone. It was just about six feet off the ground, but Pederson somehow got the bat on the ball. He ended up hitting a two-run home run just over the center field wall and tying the game 2-2.

It wasn't a bad pitch, in fact, it was right where catcher Jacob Stallings was calling the pitch. Sometimes you just have to give kudos to the hitter as Pederson was on fire throughout the night. He took a slider just inches off the ground and sent it over the wall to tie the game. It then looked like it would end there as Kris Bryant flew out for the second out of the inning and there was nobody on and two outs. Then, Javier Baez came to the plate and fell behind 0-2, before Ponce threw in a curveball that ended up just above Baez's feet. However, Baez was able to keep it fair and got to second on a bad throw by Ben Gamel that put a runner on second with two outs bringing up Anthony Rizzo.

Because Rizzo is an extreme pull hitter, the Pirates went into the usual over-dramatized shift with three infielders on the right side of the infield. When the shift works, you love it, when it doesn't you hate it and this was a case where the Pirates would hate it. Rizzo rolled over on an 0-1 cutter, hitting it maybe six miles per hour, but because the Pirates were in such a big shift, there was no one on the left side of the infield to retrieve the ball and it slowly rolled its way into centerfield. Baez came around to score, and just like that the Cubs went from two outs, and down 3-1, to ahead 4-3, and forcing the Pirates to have to play comeback. Sometimes you just have to credit the other team's hitters, and that is where the Pirates were left after the fifth inning.

Capitalizing on Your Own Opportunities

Now, just because the Pirates ran into some bad luck in the fifth inning does not mean that is the sole reason they lost this game. The Pirates had many run-scoring opportunities after that point and just weren't able to capitalize. The Cubs walked the leadoff man in the sixth, and the Pirates couldn't bring him around for a quick response. In the seventh, a two-out walk to Adam Frazier and a pinch-hit double by Wilmer Difo had runners on second and third with two outs. This brought up Bryan Reynolds, the team's leading hitter right now, with a big two-out RBI situation and he ended up striking out to end the threat. In either of those situations, the Pirates could have tied the game and wouldn't have had to face Craig Kimbrell in the ninth.

However, despite all that, they would have their best opportunity on the night against Kimbrell. Cole Tucker got his first hit of the year on a screaming line drive double that put the tying run at second with nobody out. Will Craig then did his job moving the runner to third with one out on a flyball to right field. Then, with only Ildemaro Vargas and Michael Perez left on the bench, Vargas comes up with a chance to be a hero against his old team. However, he ends up going down on strikes and brings up the MLB hits leader Adam Frazier. It was a long battle between Frazier and Kimbrell, with the count going to 3-2, but in the end, Frazier grounded out to end the game and hand the Pirates their 29th loss of the season.

The biggest problem in last night's game continues to be the Pirate's inability to hit with runners in scoring position. On the season, they are hitting just .209 and are third-worst in the league ahead of the Arizona Diamondbacks and the Milwaukee Brewers. This has killed the Pirates all season long, as guys are getting on base, but they just aren't being brought home. In the end, it is a recipe for disappointment to fans, especially in these competitive one-run games. Cody Ponce deserved better last night, but unfortunately, the offensive support just wasn't there to back him up. The Pirates still have five more games at home this homestand and are looking to turn it around and get some luck and skill back on their side.

The Pittsburgh Pirates (18-29) try to even things up with the Chicago Cubs (25-22) today at 6:35 pm. Wil Crowe (0-2, 4.91) takes the mound still looking for his first Big League win as he goes against Trevor Williams (2-2, 5.47) for the Cubs. You can watch the game live on AT&T Sportsnet, listen on 93.7 The Fan, or follow along with us live on Twitter by following @Buccos_Cove.