The Pirates fell 5-1 in Texas, but there was still plenty to unpack on the NS9 Postgame Show Powered by Primanti Bros. DiNardo and Doug, who was live from Globe Life Field, break down Carmen Mlodzinski’s tough night, the turning-point miscue involving Nick Yorke, and the Oneil Cruz blast that nearly flipped the game. It’s a level-headed look at a frustrating loss and the bigger picture around this team. Watch or listen now on North Shore Nine. And here’s my three takeaways from this dud.
Mlod Struggles with Third Time Through the Order Again
Carmen Mlodzinski has pitched well this season as a starter, he had a 1.77 ERA coming into Tuesday night’s game against the Rangers, but what hasn’t changed in his struggles the third time through the order.
Coming into tonight, his opposing OPS was .514 first time through the order, then .690 second time through the order then third time through the order it’s 1.167. Not good. Tonight, Mlod was at 80 pitches after four innings and Don Kelly brought him back out for the 5th inning to face the order for a third time. It did not go well:
Josh Smith double
Brandon Nimmo deep fly out
Ezequiel Duran RBI double
Corey Seager RBI single
And showers for Mlodzinski at that point as he was pulled in favor of Wilber Dotel. Not great. Look everyone in this fan base feels the need on Twitter to give their grand proclamation with every Mlodzinski start so I’m not going to overreact to one rough start. I’m fine with Mlodzinski being the 5th starter right now until Jared Jones comes back, but it’s just been the same old with Mlod when he gets into the order for a third time.
Lowe and Horwitz Injuries Hurt the Lineup
The Pirates have been really healthy so far this season, that’s why it was concerning when Brandon Lowe wasn’t in the lineup for a second straight game and then Spencer Horwitz, who was in the lineup, was scratched late tonight due to a neck injury. Lowe is dealing with some knee discomfort and was apparently available off the bench if needed in this game. With both sidelined, the Pirates offense managed just six hits and couldn’t get much off of Kumar Rocker after a first inning run orchestrated by Oneil Cruz. Rocker is a talented pitcher no question, but he owned a 5.26 ERA in his MLB career coming into this game and the Pirates need to hit a pitcher like that.
The game really could have changed in the 5th inning as after Jake Mangum singled and Konnor Griffin reached on an error, Cruz came to bat and barreled one to deep center field that looked like it was gone. And it should have been, but Evan Carter makes a great catch leaping up at the right moment to reach over the wall and rob Cruz of a 3-run homer. That was a deflating punch to the gut and then in the bottom of the inning, the Rangers added on off Mlod. Game was over right there.
Nice Night from the Pen
One positive in this game was the bullpen pitched well with 3.2 scoreless innings with four strikeouts and just two hits allowed. And it wasn’t just the back end of the bullpen this time. Dotel made his second MLB appearance and kept the Rangers off the board despite three walks. Justin Lawrence worked a hitless frame with two strikeouts and Evan Sisk struck out two as well in a scoreless inning of work. It’s nice to see those three get the job done on a night where the Pirates didn’t have to burn any of the back end of the pen this time.
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