MINNEAPOLIS — Chris Archer's slider had more bite, and he had pinpoint command in spurts. He even effectively used each of his four pitches to strike out seven batters, his most since joining the Pirates at the non-waiver trade deadline. Gregory Polanco, mired in another slump, had two hits, the first driving in two runs.
Josh Harrison, slowed by a hamstring for the past month, finally ran full bore again. Yet, all that mattered to Archer, and the other 24 players in a quiet visitors clubhouse Wednesday at Target Field, was the end result and a harsh reality. Their 6-4 loss to the Twins clinched a series sweep, and the Pirates, now 61-60, returned to Pittsburgh with only four wins, including one series victory, to show for a nine-game, three-city road trip. They lost ground in the standings, trailing by nine games in the Central Division and six in the Wild Card, and have dropped 11 of 19 since the end of an unexpected 11-game winning streak.
The road trip raised further questions about their status as a legitimate playoff contender and all involved were well aware of what's at stake with a four-game series against the first-place Cubs beginning Thursday at PNC Park.
"I honestly believe of the urgency in there now," Harrison, who went 3 for 5, said. "What are we here for? If there hadn’t been urgency — granted, you want urgency all the time — but as the season starts to progress you get away from, ‘Ah, there’s a lot of games left.’ Everybody gets away from that. If there’s not urgency now, then we’re in the wrong spot. I think everybody knows it’s urgent. Within that urgency, you can’t press. You can’t beat yourself down because that’s when it turns things into a mountain. … As far as urgency, oh, we know it’s urgent."
TAP ABOVE FOR BOXSCOREThe Pirates' deficit in the division is the same as it was before the day before the All-Star break, despite them owning the best record in the National League since July 8. They've won only one series since taking two out of three in Cleveland on July 23-25 and have lost three in a row for the second time this month. Meanwhile, the Cardinals have won nine of 10, the Cubs improved to 19 games over .500 and the Brewers are 13 games over.
They have four teams to jump in the Wild Card standings, while each of their next 16 games are against a playoff contender. And this two-game series against the Twins, now 56-63 and 15 1/2 games back in the American League Wild Card, powerfully illustrated all that needs fixed for them to make another run towards contention.
The Pirates batted a combined .220 with 36 strikeouts and 13 runs over their last four games, compared to .288 with 34 runs in the first five of the 10-day road trip. They went 2 for 15 with runners in scoring position in the series finale Wednesday, leaving 12 on base, including six on second or third base. They lost a lead for a second consecutive game, and another reliever allowed a home run.
Polanco went 2 for 5 with a two-run single in the fourth after a 5-for-42 skid in his first 12 games this month. Corey Dickerson had two hits, including his first extra-base hit since July 24, after beginning the month with five hits in 35 at-bats. Elias Diaz hit a solo homer, and Colin Moran added two hits.
But the Pirates failed to score after having a runner on third with no outs in the third, stranded two in scoring position in the fourth when Josh Bell flied out to left, and left two more on in the fifth and seventh innings. "There is a sense of, yeah, everything matters," Clint Hurdle said. "Scoring guys from third with less than two outs matters. First-pitch strikes matters. All of it matters. To work as hard as we’ve all worked, to put yourself in a position to push late and try to spring late ... we’re well-aware of it."
They've been slowed by inconsistency since they were nine games over .500 on May 17, losing 31 of 45 from May 18 through July 7 and falling to 12 1/2 games back in the division. Their July run led to a blockbuster acquisition who's now dealing with a bout of inefficiency. Archer, a two-time All-Star and frontline starting pitcher for much of his time in Tampa, failed to get through the sixth inning for a third consecutive start. He allowed four earned runs, two of which scored with Edgar Santana on the mound in the sixth, on six hits, only one of which was for extra bases.
He retired 11 in a row following Bobby Wilson's RBI single in the second inning, striking out the side on 17 pitches in the seventh, and didn't walk a batter for the first time in three starts with the Pirates. He only made a few bad pitches, though, including this fastball to Logan Forsythe for an RBI single in the second:
"I just have to execute at a higher level," Archer said. "I felt good, had good stuff. Some key moments I have to be able to put guys away. I didn’t do that today."
Harrison added: "It’s going to take some time, but it’s a step in the right direction." Archer exited in the sixth inning after allowing back-to-back singles, and both inherited runners scored off Santana. Keone Kela, the Pirates' other deadline acquisition, allowed this 392-foot home run to Wilson, a journeyman 35-year-old catcher who was batting .165 entering the day:
The defense didn't help, either. Adam Frazier, starting in center with Starling Marte scratched moments before first pitch because of an illness, misplayed a ball hit by Eddie Rosario in the sixth, which resulted in a run one batter later. Dickerson mishandled another ball to allow Max Kepler to reach second with a double later in the three-run inning. The Pirates rank 25th in the majors in defensive runs saved, according to FanGraphs, while the Cubs, Brewers and Cardinals are all among the top-five.
The Pirates' .249 batting average since July 25, the day their 11-game winning streak ended, ranks 19th in the majors, while their pitching staff has allowed the third-highest opponent batting average in that span. Archer, acquired to fortify a rotation that owns the fourth-lowest ERA in the majors since July 9, has a 5.66 ERA with nine earned runs allowed in 14 1/3 innings with the Pirates.
"Five hundred’s not getting it done," Jameson Taillon, the Pirates' starter Tuesday night, said. "There are other teams in front of us that are winning. The games back isn’t the problem. The problem is there are four or five teams in front of us. If we’re not playing well, it gives other teams the chance to gain ground. I’m not going to sit here and say we’re defeated on a .500 road trip, but at the same time we would have loved to have won more at this point."
It won't get easier, either. The Pirates will play five straight series against four teams they're chasing in the standings, including another nine-game trip to Milwaukee, St. Louis and Atlanta. Jordy Mercer was out of the lineup Wednesday because of a left calf strain, and his status was unknown following the game. That left the club with only two bench players, including Jacob Stallings, since it's carrying three catchers.
Harrison emphasized the need not to press, yet it's no secret time is running out.
"We didn’t win two games here," Hurdle said. "We had a chance to push over .500 on the road. We did not do it. Now it’s time to go home and play a team on top of the division. Starts tomorrow night. I know we’re looking forward to that."
1. Archer establishing his fastball.
Don't get caught up in the numbers, forget about all the hype surrounding the trade and anything Archer accomplished prior to his arrival. The Pirates acquired a pitcher who needed to make adjustments. Archer wasn't throwing his fastball effectively with the Rays, and yes, the competition and ballparks had something to do with that.
It's not easy to establish a fastball when facing fastball-hunting teams like the Yankees and Red Sox. The Rays had Archer begin to throw a two-seam fastball and curveball again later in his tenure, but that doesn't seem to be the answer, either. His slider and changeup are plus breaking pitches, while his four-seam fastball averaged 96 mph Wednesday.
The Pirates just need him to have confidence in throwing it. "I think he’s trying to re-establish his fastball command," Hurdle said. "At times it was better. Used his changeup, used his curveball. Used the four-pitch mix today. The second inning they rallied with some hits and after that he made pitches. … I think we’re still seeing some good things developing."
That's not what fans want to hear amid a playoff chase, but it's the reality. Rater than establishing that fastball, Archer's first pitch of a 29-pitch second inning was a hanging curveball to Miguel Sano, who doubled to left. There wasn't much hard contact after that. His slider produced eight swinging strikes, and they fouled off 19 of his 96 pitches.
The changeup also looked much better than it did at Coors Field, and he held their left-handed hitters to three hits in 15 at-bats. Archer wanted more, though, despite the fact he gave the Pirates a chance to beat an inferior opponent. "They had some productive at-bats in general," Archer said. "Yeah, they fouled some. They had some good takes. I have to be better than that. I am better than that. I will be better than that."
2. Breaking out of slumps.
It sounds like Harrison's hamstring was bothering him far more than he initially let on. The second baseman suffered a left hamstring strain during the final game before the All-Star Game and avoided a stint on the disabled list, missing the first four games following the break. He was batting .280 with an .807 OPS in 15 games since returning; however, it wasn't until this series finale that he was able to play without hesitation:
That's a well-placed bunt for his third hit of the afternoon, and his first three-hit game since July 6. Harrison has nine hits in his last 25 at-bats, and the Pirates will need him at his best if Mercer is to miss time.
"Anytime you can go out and get three hits it always feels good," Harrison said. "I’m just more encouraged. Today is the first day I was really able to sprint. Had to be cautious here coming from the All-Star break. That’s a sign of good things for me. Being able to play with no reservations. It’s been a while."
3. Mercer still ailing.
Mercer was removed in the fifth inning Tuesday after straining his left calf when running from first to third with two outs on Dickerson's pop fly to end the second inning. Mercer was walking with a slight limp in the visitors clubhouse before first pitch Wednesday and declined to speak to reporters. His absence, as well as Marte being scratched because of an illness, put Hurdle in a bind.
Stallings and David Freese were their only available pinch-hitters, which will force Neal Huntington to make a decision: either stop carrying three catchers or make another roster move to get another bench bat when the Pirates return to PNC Park. Don't expect Kevin Newman to be recalled if Mercer lands on the disabled list, either.
After all, Newman would need to be placed on the 40-man roster, and the Pirates would prefer he not have to sit on the bench. Adeiny Hechavarria, a superb defender, would step in as the starting shortstop. It's more likely that Max Moroff, who batted .186 in 26 games for the team earlier this season, or outfielder Jordan Luplow would be recalled to supplement the bench.