Pirates

Pirates’ Offense Stifled by Rodriguez in 6-3 Loss to Tigers

Published

9 months ago

August 2, 2023

Recap

PITTSBURGH — Had Eduardo Rodriguez not nixed a deadline deal to the Los Angeles Dodgers, he wouldn’t even have been pitching against the Pirates in this game.

The Pittsburgh Pirates (48-59) probably wish he was headed to L.A. after their offense was limited against the left-hander in their 6-3 loss to the Detroit Tigers (48-60) on Wednesday afternoon at PNC Park.

In his first game since coming off the injured list, Ke’Bryan Hayes got the Pirates on the board with a sacrifice fly to right field. The only other run for the Pirates off of Rodriguez came on an Andrew McCutchen bloop single in the fifth.

The Tigers scored three times in the fourth inning and Jake Rogers padded Detroit’s lead with a pinch-hit solo home run in the eighth inning.

Zack Short entered the game in the fourth inning and went 2 for 3 with a double and three runs driven in for Detroit.

The Pirates had the go-ahead run at the plate in the ninth, but Hayes struck out with the bases loaded.

Key Moment

Ryan Borucki had two strikes on pinch hitter Zack Short in the fourth inning, but Short lined a two-run single to left field to extend the Tigers’ lead to 4-1. Both runs went on Osvaldo Bido’s line. Bido (2-2) allowed three runs in 3+ innings pitched.

Star of the Game

Rodriguez (7-7), who entered the game with a 2.95 ERA, was as good as advertised across his 6.0 innings pitched.

Stat to Know

McCutchen’s RBI single in the fifth inning gave him his first run batted in since he drove in three runs against the Milwaukee Brewers way back on June 30. McCutchen also collected three hits in this one, the first time he’s done that since that same game vs. the Brewers. He also drew a walk.

Noteworthy

With his first-inning single, Bryan Reynolds extended his hitting streak to six games. Reynolds finished the game 3 for 4 with three singles. Reynolds has three multi-hit games over his current hitting streak.
In his first at-bat of the game, McCutchen legged out a double to right field, giving him his first extra-base hit since July 17 in addition to recording his first RBI in over a month.
Henry Davis drew a pair of walks but was also 0 for 3, extending his slump to a current 0-for-21 skid. Nick Gonzales, who went 0 for 3, is in an 0-for-14 rut.
The loss snaps the Pirates’ modest three-game winning streak, their longest since winning four in a row from June 27-30.

Up Next

The Pirates hit the road for a four-game series against the Milwaukee Brewers starting Thursday night. Mitch Keller (9-7, 3.97 ERA) will get the ball from Pittsburgh. He will be opposite Adrian Houser (3-3, 4.43 ERA). First pitch: 8:10 ET.