The Pirates’ 10-4 loss to the Colorado Rockies tonight at PNC Park looked, for four innings, like a game Mitch Keller could control. The right-hander cruised through the first four scoreless innings and had the Pirates in position to build on an early lead — until a decisive fifth inning flipped the night and turned a tight contest into an eventual blowout.
Keller was efficient and sharp early, spotting his fastball and getting quick outs while keeping Colorado quiet. But once the Rockies turned the lineup over again in the fifth, the at-bats lengthened, the contact got louder and one extended inning was enough to swing both the game and the narrative.
Keller’s final line — 5 2/3 innings, six earned runs on seven hits with one walk and three strikeouts — doesn’t reflect how cleanly he moved through the middle innings. He needed only eight pitches apiece in the third and fourth, keeping the Rockies off balance and the Pirates holding a three-run lead.
The inning that flipped everything began with TJ Rumfield’s single to right field to break up Keller’s no-hit bid. Colorado followed with four more hits to tie the game before Mickey Moniak launched a three-run homer over the Clemente Wall in right. In all, the Rockies stacked five straight hits and put up a six-run frame that handed them a 6-3 lead and seized the night.
“They just got five base hits in a row,” Keller said. “I didn’t really change any game plan or anything. I just kept going with what was working. I guess they made the adjustment.”
Those adjustments showed up in the quality of contact and the lack of empty swings. The Rockies swung 45 times against Keller and missed just four times, repeatedly putting balls in play once they got a look at him for the third time through the order. What had been quick outs suddenly became singles, a bloop double and, finally, the one swing that broke the inning open.
“It’s tough. I’ve just got to try to stop the bleeding as fast as possible – and I didn’t do that,” Keller said. “That’s the result: A six spot. It just kind of took us out of the game. That loss is on me. Everyone else played really well. I played well until that inning. Just a disaster inning.”
“The first pitch that inning was a changeup base hit, then another base hit, then four more of those in a row,” Keller said. “I think we had a bloop double that McCarthy hit. Obviously, the three-run homer is going to add to that. Just a bad inning. I’ve got to move past it.”
That ability to “move past it” will matter and something to monitor are the day-night contrasts to his performance as Keller’s night-game ERA now sits at 6.23 with 15 of his overall 21 earned runs coming during that time of the day.
THE ASYLUM
'Move past it'
The Pirates’ 10-4 loss to the Colorado Rockies tonight at PNC Park looked, for four innings, like a game Mitch Keller could control. The right-hander cruised through the first four scoreless innings and had the Pirates in position to build on an early lead — until a decisive fifth inning flipped the night and turned a tight contest into an eventual blowout.
Keller was efficient and sharp early, spotting his fastball and getting quick outs while keeping Colorado quiet. But once the Rockies turned the lineup over again in the fifth, the at-bats lengthened, the contact got louder and one extended inning was enough to swing both the game and the narrative.
Keller’s final line — 5 2/3 innings, six earned runs on seven hits with one walk and three strikeouts — doesn’t reflect how cleanly he moved through the middle innings. He needed only eight pitches apiece in the third and fourth, keeping the Rockies off balance and the Pirates holding a three-run lead.
The inning that flipped everything began with TJ Rumfield’s single to right field to break up Keller’s no-hit bid. Colorado followed with four more hits to tie the game before Mickey Moniak launched a three-run homer over the Clemente Wall in right. In all, the Rockies stacked five straight hits and put up a six-run frame that handed them a 6-3 lead and seized the night.
“They just got five base hits in a row,” Keller said. “I didn’t really change any game plan or anything. I just kept going with what was working. I guess they made the adjustment.”
Those adjustments showed up in the quality of contact and the lack of empty swings. The Rockies swung 45 times against Keller and missed just four times, repeatedly putting balls in play once they got a look at him for the third time through the order. What had been quick outs suddenly became singles, a bloop double and, finally, the one swing that broke the inning open.
“It’s tough. I’ve just got to try to stop the bleeding as fast as possible – and I didn’t do that,” Keller said. “That’s the result: A six spot. It just kind of took us out of the game. That loss is on me. Everyone else played really well. I played well until that inning. Just a disaster inning.”
“The first pitch that inning was a changeup base hit, then another base hit, then four more of those in a row,” Keller said. “I think we had a bloop double that McCarthy hit. Obviously, the three-run homer is going to add to that. Just a bad inning. I’ve got to move past it.”
That ability to “move past it” will matter and something to monitor are the day-night contrasts to his performance as Keller’s night-game ERA now sits at 6.23 with 15 of his overall 21 earned runs coming during that time of the day.
Want to participate in our comments?
Want an ad-free experience?
Become a member, and enjoy premium benefits!
We’d love to have you!