Mitch Keller’s Complete Game Shutout Snaps Pirates’ Seven-Game Skid

PITTSBURGH —Pittsburgh Pirates starter Mitch Keller and Colorado Rockies left-hander Kyle Freeland were engaged in a good old-fashioned pitcher’s duel at PNC Park on Monday night.

Ultimately, Keller (4-1) was able to outduel Freeland by throwing his first career complete game and first complete game shutout as the Pirates (21-15)  snapped their seven-game losing streak by defeating the Rockies 2-0. It marked the first time the Pirates have won in the month of May. 

Keller became the first Pirates’ pitcher since Jameson Taillon in 2018 with a nine-inning complete game shutout.

Keller was simply stellar in the start for the Pirates. Prior to his start in this one, Keller had not pitched into the eighth inning at any point in his big league career. 

Keller limited the Rockies (14-22) to just four hits while he only walked one batter and struck out eight. It took the right-hander 103 pitches to get through his outing.

The right-hander wrapped it up with a tidy 1-2-3 inning which consisted of only seven pitches to get through the Rockies’ 2-3-4 hitters.

It wasn’t until the seventh inning when Rodolfo Castro broke a scoreless tie with a two-run home run out to center field to put the Pirates out in front. 

Connor Joe opened the seventh inning with a single before Castro took an 0-1 fastball from Freeland (3-4) 406 feet into the bullpens.

Ke’Bryan Hayes recorded a pair of singles, giving him multi-hit games in three straight contests. That matches his career-high, which he has done three other times. The last occurrence was from Sept. 12-14 last season. Hayes was on base three times after drawing a leadoff walk in the eighth. 

The Pirates will look to make it two wins in a row and clinch a series victory with a win on Tuesday night. Luis Ortiz is expected to make his season debut for the Pirates. Right-hander Connor Seabold (0-0, 5.30 ERA) will be on the mound for the Rockies. First pitch: 6:35