The Pirates led the Astros by five runs and had them down to their final four outs. But another bullpen meltdown cost them Game Two of their series in Houston.
Joe Block recaps the bitter loss.
Paul Skenes threw only four-and-two-thirds innings and gave up three runs, but he had to throw 109 pitches in the short outing. Manager Donnie Kelly says Skenes couldn’t get a break.
Kelly says the bullpen’s struggles last night, especially by Mason Montgomery and Gregory Soto, were especially disappointing.
Kelly liked the offense’s performance, with Spencer Horwitz collecting three hits, Nick Gonzalez and Oneill Cruz each getting two, and Henry Davis bashing his first career grand slam.
The series concludes tonight in Houston. Jared Jones (0-0, 10.38 in his one start) pitches for the Pirates against the Astros’ Kai-Wei Teng (3-3, 2.57 ERA). Airtime is 7:45 with the first pitch at 8:10 on WCCS.)
Shortstop Konnor Griffin took grounders yesterday in Houston, but he did not throw as he continues to nurse a tender forearm. He is eligible to return from the injured list next Wednesday. Today is the normal day for the Bucs to update information on their injured players.
ALTOONA CURVE
Reliever Landon Tomkins made his first career professional start for Altoona last night and got bombed, giving up four earned runs in one-and-two-thirds innings and the Curve lost to New Hampshire, 14-3. Derek Berg and Titus Dumitru both had two hits for the Curve, who will send Peyton Stumbo to the mound for an 11:05 game this morning in Manchester.
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