Mitch Keller went into Tuesday night's game at PNC Park with a 1.00 ERA and 0.94 WHIP. He'd been perhaps the Pirates' best starting pitcher to start the season. However, Keller's hot streak was snapped, as the Pirates fell to the Nationals, 5-4.
Keller needed 29 pitches to get through a first inning in which he allowed three runs, and he only got out of that inning because Daylen Lile got himself picked off second base and Joey Bart managed to throw out CJ Abrams trying to steal. Keller managed to settle down and get through four innings, but allowed five runs on six hits with four walks and three strikeouts.
"Pretty terrible," Keller said. "I just wasn’t commanding the ball the way I usually do. Just kind of a tough outing. I’ll look at it tomorrow and get back to work. Man, shoutout to the team. Came back. Was within striking distance down to the final out. Just shows the character of this team. We’re in it until the final out."
The offense battled back from the 5-1 deficit Keller had them in when he left the mound after the fourth inning, making it a 5-4 ballgame by the time the fifth inning came to an end. However, the Pirates couldn't drive in that tying run, and Keller earned his first loss of the season.
THE ASYLUM
Keller labors through four
Mitch Keller went into Tuesday night's game at PNC Park with a 1.00 ERA and 0.94 WHIP. He'd been perhaps the Pirates' best starting pitcher to start the season. However, Keller's hot streak was snapped, as the Pirates fell to the Nationals, 5-4.
Keller needed 29 pitches to get through a first inning in which he allowed three runs, and he only got out of that inning because Daylen Lile got himself picked off second base and Joey Bart managed to throw out CJ Abrams trying to steal. Keller managed to settle down and get through four innings, but allowed five runs on six hits with four walks and three strikeouts.
"Pretty terrible," Keller said. "I just wasn’t commanding the ball the way I usually do. Just kind of a tough outing. I’ll look at it tomorrow and get back to work. Man, shoutout to the team. Came back. Was within striking distance down to the final out. Just shows the character of this team. We’re in it until the final out."
The offense battled back from the 5-1 deficit Keller had them in when he left the mound after the fourth inning, making it a 5-4 ballgame by the time the fifth inning came to an end. However, the Pirates couldn't drive in that tying run, and Keller earned his first loss of the season.
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