PIRATES

On a night in which the Pirates scored at least nine runs for a fourth consecutive game, a feat a team in franchise history hadn't accomplished since 1928, a familiar problem reared its ugly head. 

It had nothing to do with an offensive effort that featured 12 hits, including a Henry Davis grand slam and a Nick Gonzales homer. It had everything to do with a nightmare eighth inning that saw the Pirates' bullpen squander a four-run lead in what ended up an 11-9 loss at the hands of the Astros here tonight at Daikin Park. 

Houston scored six runs against two of the Pirates' more dependable left-handed arms in Mason Montgomery and Gregory Soto. Both were charged with three earned runs and combined to allow five hits and two walks en route to giving up the 9-5 cushion established heading into the eighth. 

"Any time you lose a game like that it's frustrating," Don Kelly said. "Looking at Monty and Soto, both of them have been so good for us this year. That one just got away. Just have to find a way to bounce back tomorrow." 

Making matters worse was the fact that all of this happened with two outs in the inning. And the Pirates were one strike away from ending it on two separate occasions. Montgomery struck out Jake Meyers and Brice Matthews before admittedly failing to execute from there. He allowed back-to-back doubles to Nick Allen and Christian Vazquez and walked Jeremy Peńa prior to turning things over to Soto, who gave up two runs on singles, allowing the tying run to score on a wild pitch and then served up the dagger in the form of a Cam Smith two-run triple down the right-field line.

"Just missed spots with the fastball and they put good swings on it," Montgomery said. "Can't give up a free base there to Peña. I've just got to land the curveball and it's a different story. ... If I execute some pitches in better spots, maybe it puts myself in a better situation and makes it a little harder to get solid contact. It's part of the game and they're going to put the ball in play the best they can. Sometimes it's not going to go to anyone." 

The Pirates have clearly fixed an offense that has gone from one of Major League Baseball's worst to one of the better overall units in the game. The starting rotation still operates as one of the best with Paul Skenes, who allowed three runs on seven hits in 4 2/3 innings here tonight, and Braxton Ashcraft at the forefront of the collective success. But the bullpen is clearly what's holding this team back from taking legitimate steps forward. The Pirates are still tied for second place in the National League Central, but they've let a handful 

The Pirates, who have seen plenty of wins slip away due to late-game collapses, have few dependable relievers at the moment, and guys they expected to rely on haven't been able to get the job done. Yohan Ramirez, who allowed a two-run homer to Isaac Paredes in the seventh, has had plenty of issues, Dennis Santana has looked lost since the end of April, Isaac Mattson is working through things with Class AAA Indianapolis and Justin Lawrence was recently designated for assignment and now plays for the Twins. Evan Sisk has been a pleasant surprise, Brandan Bidois has had his moments and Wilber Dotel and Carmen Mlodzinski are quality options in long relief, but there's more to be desired from a group whose stronger links were the ones who were rather weak on this particular night. 

"We can't lose this one today," Skenes said. "It stings a little bit. Putting up nine runs, you should win that game every time. It doesn't feel good for me and I know it doesn't feel good for the other pitchers who threw today. There are times where we'll pick up the offense and there are times we won't. Tonight was kinda one of those nights. It's a little unfortunate, but that's why they give us 162."