WASHINGTON -- The Pirates’ penultimate road trip of the season has had one constant theme thus far: always being one run short.
After being swept in Baltimore earlier this week -- two of which came via extra-inning walk-offs -- the Pirates again dropped another one-run decision Friday at Nationals Park, 6-5, this time falling just short of a late rally.
With two on down two runs in the ninth, pinch-hitter Joey Bart lined a base hit to left field, but James Wood threw out Alexander Canario at the plate. Jared Triolo flied out to right the next at-bat to end it.
Initially, it looked like Canario had a chance to beat the tag, but he opted to try and swipe the back of the plate with his hand -- and was tagged before he touched home.
“It was a great throw by [Wood],” manager Don Kelly said. “I thought it was a great send by [third base coach Mike Rabelo], pushing the envelope there. It took a really good throw by Wood to get him. To tell a guy how to slide in that moment, he's just trying to get to home plate any way he can."
The Pirates didn’t play a perfect game, but amid a now seven-game losing streak, falling just short has an extra sting to it.
“Going through a six-game losing streak, being down by three going into the ninth against their closer, the fight, the chance to score,” Kelly said. “It's frustrating when you're losing seven in a row, and especially the last four by one run. I just like the fight in the guys to finish strong there."
Keller's quick hook
Mitch Keller got off to a very efficient start Friday, needing just 51 pitches to get through five scoreless frames. The offense had built him an early 3-0 lead, and with one of their top pitchers on the mound, it looked like a chance to snap the skid.
Instead, Keller ran into issues in the sixth. Brady House opened the inning with a home run, and after two more hard-hit knocks, Kelly pulled Keller after 5 1/3 innings.
Kelly cited Josh Bell’s success against Keller in his career (6-for-12 entering the game) and a desire to get the switch-hitting Bell to bat right-handed as the reason why he went to Evan Sisk in that spot. While Bell grounded into a fielder’s choice, the Nationals ended up getting a second crucial run that inning on a wild pitch.
“As a competitor, you want to stay out there, but a full lefty lineup like that and obviously the home run to lead off the inning didn’t help my case,” Keller said when asked if he was surprised by the hook. “Obviously, I just want to be out there. I wish I could go nine every game.”
Bullpen troubles
The trade of David Bednar in July was not popular, but the Pirates had some other options for those late-inning roles. Dennis Santana and Isaac Mattson have done well as the closer and setup man over the past month or so, but the middle relief hasn’t been as reliable. As a whole, the bullpen had a -0.25 Win Probability Added during their losing streak entering Friday, meaning they’ve put their team in a worse spot to win than what they inherited.
On Friday, Kyle Nicolas allowed four runs over two-thirds of an inning. The first two came on a Dylan Crews home run to give the Nationals their first lead of the night in the seventh, while Dauri Moreta followed by allowing a two-out single to Bell to plate the two runners he inherited.
The bullpen could use more leverage and middle-innings options. Perhaps Justin Lawrence, who was activated off of the 60-day injured list before the game, could be part of the solution.
“He can be,” Kelly said pregame when asked if Lawrence could get leverage looks this year. “He’s shown that before. I’m sure, as the season plays out these last 15, you might see him in a leverage situation.”