For the second straight game, the Pirates' offense was practically non-existent. They scored one run on four hits in support of PaulSkenes yesterday and failed to score a run while mustering four hits once again with MitchKeller on the mound in a 5-0 loss to the Cardinals this afternoon at Busch Stadium.
Keller took the loss despite delivering a quality start, allowing three runs on seven hits with three walks and six strikeouts in six innings. He was effective through his first two innings, limiting the Cardinals to a hit and a walk while throwing just 21 pitches, but things took a turn for the worse in the third.
Keller surrendered a one-out walk to Victor Scott II before allowing this RBI single to LarsNootbaar on a fastball near the outer edge of the plate:
One batter later, MasynWinn added to the lead by blooping a run-scoring double into right to make it a two-run game. Again, it was a situation where Keller threw a quality pitch in a 2-2 count. He was looking for a swing and miss with the sweeper and Winn went out to get it:
Winn ended up hurting Keller again in the fifth, making solid contact on a slider down in the zone and driving in the Cardinals' third run on another run-scoring double that scored Scott, who singled to lead off the inning:
"I thought Mitch threw the ball well," Derek Shelton said. "They score a run on Scott was moving on a single and we're talking about one of the faster guys in the game, ground ball down the line and a jam shot. I thought, overall, he had really good stuff."
• RyanBorucki allowed one hit in a scoreless seventh inning after Keller started the inning and surrendered a leadoff single to PedroPages. CalebFerguson struck out two in 2/3 of an inning, but he was also charged with two earned runs after allowing a single to BrendanDonovan and a double to LukenBaker in the eighth. ColinHolderman replaced him and allowed a two-run single to JordanWalker before getting Pages swinging to end the eighth.
• Pirates hitters struck out 10 times today and 24 times in this three-game series. Three different hitters -- OneilCruz, BryanReynolds and Ke'Bryan Hayes -- struck out more than once in this one and only two players -- AndrewMcCutchen and AdamFrazier -- finished the game without a strikeout.
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THE ASYLUM
José Negron
12:55 am - 05.08.2025St. LouisExtra Bases: Keller's tough-luck loss
For the second straight game, the Pirates' offense was practically non-existent. They scored one run on four hits in support of Paul Skenes yesterday and failed to score a run while mustering four hits once again with Mitch Keller on the mound in a 5-0 loss to the Cardinals this afternoon at Busch Stadium.
Keller took the loss despite delivering a quality start, allowing three runs on seven hits with three walks and six strikeouts in six innings. He was effective through his first two innings, limiting the Cardinals to a hit and a walk while throwing just 21 pitches, but things took a turn for the worse in the third.
Keller surrendered a one-out walk to Victor Scott II before allowing this RBI single to Lars Nootbaar on a fastball near the outer edge of the plate:
One batter later, Masyn Winn added to the lead by blooping a run-scoring double into right to make it a two-run game. Again, it was a situation where Keller threw a quality pitch in a 2-2 count. He was looking for a swing and miss with the sweeper and Winn went out to get it:
Winn ended up hurting Keller again in the fifth, making solid contact on a slider down in the zone and driving in the Cardinals' third run on another run-scoring double that scored Scott, who singled to lead off the inning:
"I thought Mitch threw the ball well," Derek Shelton said. "They score a run on Scott was moving on a single and we're talking about one of the faster guys in the game, ground ball down the line and a jam shot. I thought, overall, he had really good stuff."
• Ryan Borucki allowed one hit in a scoreless seventh inning after Keller started the inning and surrendered a leadoff single to Pedro Pages. Caleb Ferguson struck out two in 2/3 of an inning, but he was also charged with two earned runs after allowing a single to Brendan Donovan and a double to Luken Baker in the eighth. Colin Holderman replaced him and allowed a two-run single to Jordan Walker before getting Pages swinging to end the eighth.
• Pirates hitters struck out 10 times today and 24 times in this three-game series. Three different hitters -- Oneil Cruz, Bryan Reynolds and Ke'Bryan Hayes -- struck out more than once in this one and only two players -- Andrew McCutchen and Adam Frazier -- finished the game without a strikeout.
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