PIRATES

As players departed for the visiting clubhouse following the Pirates' 7-6 loss to the Cubs here today at Wrigley Field, Justin Lawrence remained in the dugout to reflect on an eighth inning in which a two-run lead slipped away. 

Lawrence, who entered today with a 9.95 ERA and 1.74 WHIP in seven prior outings, walked two batters and gave up an RBI single to Michael Busch in that inning, seeing his now prolonged struggles leak into yet another game. 

"Just frustrated I couldn't get the job done for the team," said an emotional Lawrence, who has allowed at least one run in all but three of his eight appearances this season. "We're playing really good baseball right now and now feels like not the first time that I've kind of messed up our momentum. I've never played on a team of this caliber before. I've never had a coach like Bill (Murphy), believe in me the way he does, DK, everybody. You talk about all the additions and stuff that we made for this team, and how I was supposed to be a big part of that. I get it, it's early, but if I do what I'm supposed to be doing, I think our record's even better. Just letting guys down right now." 

It's obvious that this recent stretch, one that includes an inning of work against the Padres Wednesday in which he allowed four runs on three hits, is taking a toll on Lawrence. The lack of results have been detrimental at times, even when he's still striking guys out and seeing better velocity with each of his pitches. In this one in particular, he threw eight fastballs and averaged 97 mph with it. That's a nearly three mile per hour increase over his season average. Still, it hasn't resulted in productive performances. 

"He’s pressing," Don Kelly said. "With Justin, nobody feels worse than he does right now, what he’s going through. Looking back at his season last year, to have a 0.51 ERA and do what he did, we know he’s capable of doing that. He’s gonna get some big outs for us this year. Just not feeling it right now." 

Lawrence has had plenty of conversations with Kelly and Murphy, ones that have included some words of encouragement. Even a veteran like Brandon Lowe has some advice for his struggling teammate. 

“Flush it," Lowe said. "There’s going to be moments where the other team beats you. They’re professionals on the other side as well. They’re trying to do exactly what they did today. I think that was some of the best I’ve seen his stuff today. He popped a couple of 8’s and looking at the movement profiles he was putting up on the board, he had good stuff today. He just didn’t get the job done. Maybe in two days, he’s gonna come in in a one-run ballgame and he’ll shut the door. It’s one of those things that it happens, but you flush it. You’ll have our backs again soon.”