Pirates’ Miscues Prove Costly in 8-3 Loss to Diamondbacks

PITTSBURGH — Some unforced miscues for the Pittsburgh Pirates wound up costing them as they were defeated 8-3 by the Arizona Diamondbacks on Sunday afternoon at PNC Park.

A pair of errors handed the Diamondbacks a 4-3 lead in the top of the sixth. Third baseman Ke’Bryan Hayes skipped a throw to first baseman Carlos Santana that Santana couldn’t pick. Christian Walker scored after Lourdes Gurriel reached on an infield single and Moreta was charged with a throwing error.

The following inning, the Diamondbacks (27-20) were able to blow the game open.

Rob Zystryzny made his first appearance since coming off of the injured list earlier in the week. He allowed one hit and was charged with one run in 1.1 innings of relief.

Robert Stephenson entered the game for the left-hander with two outs in the seventh inning when Ketel Marte fought off an 0-2 pitch for an RBI-single. 

The troubles for Stephenson continued in the inning after Walker doubled home a pair with a hard-hit grounder down the third base line. 

Walker gave the Diamondbacks yet another insurance run in the top of the ninth with an RBI-single up the middle.

With two outs in the top of the first, Contreras hung a 3-2 slider to Corbin Carroll, who deposited the pitch into the right field seats, putting Arizona up 1-0. The solo shot was Carroll’s seventh of the season.

The Pirates (24-22) manufactured their first run of the game to force a 1-1 tie before recording their first hit. Connor Joe drew a two-out walk in the second inning, advanced to third on a throwing error from pitcher Merrill Kelly and later scored on a wild pitch.

Contreras was nearly able to escape a jam in the third inning, but a wild pitch allowed Jose Herrera to score to put Arizona back up 2-1.

Wild pitches were a common theme for Pirates’ pitchers in this one, having been charged with five in the game. Catcher Jason Delay wasn’t able to corral a couple which ended up aiding the Diamondbacks. 

Delay also made a throwing error in the top of the ninth, giving the Pirates their third error of the game.

Arizona tacked on another run in the top of the fifth on a Pavin Smith RBI-single to left-center. 

After the fifth, Contreras was replaced by reliever Dauri Moreta (1-1). Contreras allowed three runs in five innings. He yielded three hits, walked three and struck out a trio of Diamondbacks’ hitters.

The Pirates first hit of the game didn’t come until there was one out in the bottom of the fifth inning, but then the Pirates rattled off three consecutive hits. The last of those three knocks was a Tucupita Marcano two-run double to right, tying the game at 3-3. It was Marcano’s first multi-RBI game since Aug. 21 last season. 

Those were the only three hits of the game for the Pirates as they were out-hit by Arizona 9-3.

Up next, the Pirates will host the Texas Rangers for a three-game series starting on Monday night. Luis Ortiz (0-2, 5.63 ERA) will make his third start of the year for the Pirates. Dane Dunning (4-0, 1.69 ERA) will be on the mound for Texas. First pitch: 6:35.