North Shore Nine

The Pittsburgh Pirates were shut out once again, this time in a 1-0 loss to the Seattle Mariners that lasted just over two hours. It was a game defined by strong pitching and another lifeless performance at the plate. Mike Burrows made his return to the Pirates’ rotation and looked sharp, tossing 5 scoreless innings with poise and command. It was a promising step for the young righty as he fights to stay in this rotation.

Caleb Ferguson followed Burrows and was the lone blemish on an otherwise solid night of pitching. He gave up the game’s only run — just his second earned run allowed since mid May — and continues to be one of the more reliable arms in the bullpen despite the loss.

Offensively, though, the Pirates had no answers. Bryan Reynolds and Oneil Cruz both failed to make an impact, and the team finished the night with just a handful of baserunners. The lineup couldn’t solve Mariners starter Luis Castillo, who cruised through the Pirates’ order with ease.

This latest shutout is part of a larger trend for a Pirates team that simply can’t get anything going at the plate. The pitching continues to do its job, but without run support, it’s hard to imagine this team stringing wins together.

Catch the full postgame breakdown with DiNardo and Neil on the NS9 Postgame Show — now streaming wherever you get your podcasts and on YouTube.