Skenes, Not Enough as Pirates Get No-Hit; Suffer Third Straight Loss
The Pittsburgh Pirates have hit a rough patch in Spring Training, dropping their last three games in increasingly frustrating fashion. Their most recent defeat, a 4-0 loss to the Baltimore Orioles, saw the Pirates fail to record a single hit, marking a low point for the team’s offensive production this spring. This follows a 2-1 loss to the Boston Red Sox and a 5-2 defeat against the Tampa Bay Rays, extending their consistent streakiness. The Pirates’ inability to capitalize on scoring opportunities is a two-part story. On one hand, Zach Eflin, Zack Littell, and Garret Crochet, the three pitchers the Pirates have faced, had some of the best outings they have had all spring against the Bucs. On the other hand, Pittsburgh had 16 combined hits between their loss to Tampa Bay and Boston and was a putrid two-for-17 with RISP.
The struggles began with a 5-2 loss against the Rays, where Pittsburgh scored just two runs on eight hits against Littel, three innings of scoreless relief from Tampa Bay’s pitching staff. Ji-Hwan Bae’s third-inning RBI double, alongside Tommy Pham’s triple in the same inning were the lone bright spots in an otherwise uneventful offensive output for the Pirates. Andrew Heaney took the mound for Pittsburgh, allowing three critical earned runs off of home runs from Eloy Jiménez and Danny Jansen, across four and a third innings. Late-game bullpen struggles allowed the Rays to extend their lead, securing Pittsburgh’s impending defeat.
Pittsburgh's offense in their 2-1 loss to the Red Sox showcased a different story. The Pirates had eight hits, and three stolen bases, plus were overall productive on the basepaths. That being said, a slow start that lasted nearly the entire nine innings would dig the Pirates into a hole they could not hit out of. Mitch Keller and the bullpen were strong throughout, only allowing a single hit through seven innings. Mike Jarvis provided the only run of the game for Pittsburgh, scoring off a ninth-inning single by William Taylor. Despite holding off until the end, Ceddanne Rafaela’s fielder’s choice, scored Kristan Campbell, and pinch-hitter Rob Refsnyder’s RBI single in the eighth put Boston over the top.
Finally, Pittsburgh’s no-hit loss against the Orioles, where the Pirates were completely shut down in a 4-0 ballgame. Baltimore’s pitching staff, led by Zach Eflin and five relievers, including former Pirate, Roansy Contreras, prevented Pittsburgh from gaining any serious momentum throughout the contest. Pittsburgh's best chance to break the no-hitter came in the fourth inning when both Andrew McCutchen and DJ Stewart drew back-to-back two-out walks, but an Adam Frazier groundout to third ended any possible rally. Meanwhile, the Orioles capitalized on bullpen struggles, including a three-run seventh inning with Peter Strzelecki on the mound. Paul Skenes pitched as expected, tossing three-and-a-third one-hit innings with four Ks and no runs allowed. As the Pirates search for momentum to cling on to exiting spring training, the failure to capitalize offensively is more pronounced than it’s been, showing early warning signs ahead of the regular season. Pittsburgh heads to face Toronto and Minnesota to finish out spring training ahead of Thursday’s Opening Day.
