Pirates Implode in Sixth Inning, Routed Again By White Sox; Bullpen to Blame This Time
PITTSBURGH — The Pittsburgh Pirates’ two-run lead quickly evaporated in the sixth inning, and they were never able to recover in a 10-4 loss to the Chicago White Sox at PNC Park on Saturday night.
How We Got There
After squandering chances in the early innings, the Pirates (39-60) jumped out to a 3-0 lead in the fourth inning. Ke’Bryan Hayes ripped a two-run double to right-center, and two batters later, scored on Isiah Kiner-Falefa single up the middle.
Pirates starter Mike Burrows carried a no-hitter into the fifth inning before the White Sox (34-65) rallied for a pair of runs. Lenyn Sosa delivered an RBI single and Josh Rojas brought Chicago within a run with a double.
Nick Gonzales responded with an RBI double off the Clemente Wall in right to put the Pirates back up by a pair.
Caleb Ferguson (2-2) was responsible for four of the six runs the White Sox scored in the sixth. Isaac Mattson was on the hook for the other two. The White Sox sent 11 men to the plate in the inning.
Chicago patted its lead on Sosa’s two-run double in the seventh off Carmen Mlodzinski.
The Pirates have lost 10 of their last 11 games.
Key Moment
The Pirates nearly escaped the fourth inning in a 4-4 tie, but Isaac Mattson hung an 0-2 slider to Mike Tauchman with two outs and the bases loaded. Tauchman cleared the bases with a double to right-center.
Star of the Game
Lenyn Sosa reached base in all five of his plate appearances. He doubled, singled twice, drew a walk and was hit by a pitch. He also drove in three runs and scored twice.
Stat to Know
The Pirates’ bullpen has allowed 14 runs in nine innings this series (14.00 ERA). They allowed six runs in five innings on Friday night and eight in four innings in this one.
Notable Performances
- Mike Burrows: 5.0 innings, three hits, two runs, two walks, six strikeouts, 76 pitches/49 strikes
- Caleb Ferguson: 0.1 innings, four hits, four runs, no walks, no strikeouts, 12 pitches/7 strikes
- Isaac Mattson: 0.1 innings two hits, two runs, one walk, one strikeout, 22 pitches/12 strikes
- Nick Gonzales: 3 for 5, one double, one run, one RBI
- Bryan Reynolds: 3 for 5, one double, one run
- Ke’Bryan Hayes: 1 for 3, one double, two RBI, one run
- Andrew McCutchen: 2 for 5, one run
- Isiah Kiner-Falefa, 2 for 4, one RBI
Noteworthy
- Oneil Cruz extended his hitting streak to seven games. He finished the night 1 for 5 with a triple.
- The Pirates handed out a Mac Miller bobblehead as part of their Yinzerpalooza weekend. It was the third sellout at PNC Park this season with 38,041 in attendance, the largest of the season.
Up Next
The Pirates and White Sox will conclude their weekend series on Sunday afternoon. LHP Andrew Heaney (4-8, 4.59 ERA) will start for Pittsburgh opposite RHP Aaron Civale (1-6, 5.30 ERA). First pitch: 1:35 p.m. ET.
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