The Pirates were looking to sweep the Miami Marlins in the fourth game of their series yesterday, but a costly error on an attempted force play at second base in the sixth inning late allowed the lead run to score.
Joe Block has the story:
Manager Derek Shelton liked what he saw from his starter, Chad Kuhl, who fell to 0-3 with the loss.
The key play was a ground ball to Adam Frazier in the 6th inning. The second baseman wheeled and threw to shortstop Erik Gonzalez for the force at second, but the ball got away from Gonzalez, allowing the lead run to score. Shelton says Frazier made the right play, but it didn’t work out.
The Bucs’ manager was happy to see Colin Moran back in the lineup. He said Moran’s bat alters the way a team can pitch against the Pirates.
Moran’s return was unexpected after the Pirates last week that neither Moran nor Phillip Evans were expected back for the weekend series. Evans remains on the injured list recovering from a hamstring strain. Cole Tucker was optioned back to Indianapolis to make room for Moran.
The Pirates put pitcher Mitch Keller on the covid-injured list. Keller was pulled from Friday’s start in the second inning with what the team said at the time was “heat illness.” Because of MLB protocol, the team is not permitted to discuss the status of anyone placed on the covid-injured list. Reliever Austin Davis was recalled. He’d been at Indy rehabbing a sore elbow.
The Pirates are off today and play host to the Dodgers for three games starting tomorrow night.
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