The Pirates had every chance to win Tuesday night, but a 5-4 loss to the Nationals left more frustration than anything else. On the latest NS9 Postgame Show, Tyler and Doug broke down a game that felt completely there for the taking before it slipped away late.
A big part of the conversation centered around Don Kelly’s seventh-inning decision to pinch hit Nick Yorke for Brandon Lowe with the bases loaded. Tyler and Doug both questioned the move, especially with Lowe swinging one of the hottest bats on the roster right now. Yorke put the ball in play, but it turned into exactly what the Pirates could not afford in that spot: a ground ball. In a one-run game, that moment loomed large.
They also pointed to Mitch Keller’s rough outing as the biggest reason Pittsburgh lost. Keller did not have his best stuff, lasted fewer than five innings, and put the Pirates in an early hole they spent the rest of the night trying to climb out of. Still, the bullpen kept the game winnable, with Yohan Ramirez and Mason Montgomery continuing to give the Pirates quality innings.
There were positives too. Lowe homered again, Joey Bart went deep, Marcell Ozuna showed signs of life with multiple hard-hit balls, and Konnor Griffin continued to flash why the organization believes in him so strongly. Even in a loss, the Pirates kept fighting, which is part of why this one stung so much. This felt like a game they should have won. Watch or listen to the full episode for the complete breakdown.
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