The Pirates were left short of scoring chances in Wednesday's 7-0 loss to defending World Series champion Houston Wednesday afternoon at PNC Park.
The majority of the reason for that was because of Jose Urquidy's dominant six innings in allowing just two hits and five total baserunners. But, three instances covered by the Astros' outfield swung the differences in the Pirates' offense having a runner aboard and in scoring position with nobody out, to it having one out to lead off the inning.
The victims were Ke'Bryan Hayes, Andrew McCutchen, and Tuesday hero Ji Hwan Bae. The culprits, respectively, were Chas McCormick, Kyle Tucker, and Corey Julks.
What a catch 😧 pic.twitter.com/g2TpxxMyBl
— Houston Astros (@astros) April 12, 2023
Dual. Threat. pic.twitter.com/nxztiNVvSa
— Houston Astros (@astros) April 12, 2023
"They're good. They're really good. They defend, they hit. They're deep," Derek Shelton said. "I mean one of the best players in baseball didn't play today in the lineup in (Yordan) Alvarez and their starting pitching is legit. Again, that's why you win World Series."
To lead off the second inning, Hayes sent a 1-1 offering from Urquidy on a line into left-center field. McCormick ranged to his right and made the tumbling grab to retire Hayes and prevent a potential leadoff extra-base hit.
McCutchen led off the fourth inning by taking an 0-1 sinker to the Clemente wall, and Tucker ranged back and to his right to make the grab two steps in front of the wall before running into it. Per Baseball Savant, Tucker rank 69 feet for the play and had a 59% chance to make the catch:
Andrew McCutchen flies out to right fielder Kyle Tucker. (04/12/2023)
— Outfield Bot (@OutfieldBot) April 12, 2023
Hang: 3.7s | Fielder Distance: 69ft.
Catch Odds: 59%
💎💎💎 Flyout
🎥: https://t.co/pAKmGXY2yA pic.twitter.com/MQ02OBbTiD
The final form of robbery came when Bae led off the sixth inning by taking a 1-2, high-and-tight fastball the other way, only for Julks to range in glove-side and make the sliding catch. Per Baseball Savant, Julks spanned 50 feet for it, but had a 95% chance to make the play. That would indicate Julks took a bad route, had a bad jump on the ball, or a combination of both, as to why he had to come so far in and make the catch on a slide.
These three plays negated leadoff runners for a Pirates team which had four baserunners reach second base, and two able to reach third base. The Pirates went 0-for-4 with runners in scoring position.
"They made some good plays, and that's baseball, right?" Connor Joe said. "They're a big momentum-based team. A big hit's going to drive them, a big play in the field's going to carry them. Baseball's a game of momentum. When you hit balls like (Hayes) hit today and they catch them, like, yeah, it deflates you. Always want to be on the other side of those types of plays, and we will be."
