Morning Rundown: Bubba Chandler pitches four no-hit innings, Pirates lose in walk-off fashion
Bubba Chandler finally makes his second start of the season, and the Pirates lose on Saturday on a walk-off hit.
Originally scheduled to make his second start of the season on Thursday, rain pushed it back to Saturday, and Bubba Chandler made it worth the wait.
He walked a pair of runners early, but by the end of the day, he had completed four no-hit innings and struck out six batters.
Chandler picked up nine swinging strikes in the game and has 10 strikeouts on 7.1 innings pitched in two starts this season.
Going back to his one start at the end of the year, Chandler has held Harrisburg to just one hit while walking two and striking out 14 batters in nine innings pitched across two starts.
Jared Jones and Paul Skenes have stolen the headlines so far, for a good reason, but it was a reminder of how deep the Pirates are in high-upside arms.
The bullpen, namely Aroldis Chapman, has been incredibly solid for the Pirates so far this season.
On Saturday, Chapman struggled to find the strike zone, walking two and allowing a hit before being lifted after one-third of an inning.
Roansy Contreras came in with runners on second and third and intentionally walked Alec Bohm before giving up a walk-off hit to Nick Castellanos.
The Pirates carried the lead into the seventh after Marco Gonzales allowed two runs on six hits and three walks while striking out six in six innings.
Oneil Cruz hit a two-run home run, his third of the season.
Mitch Keller will face Zack Wheeler in the series finale as the Pirates will look for a series split. The game has an expected start time of 1:35 pm ET.
Top Exit Velocity
Juan Jerez - BRD - 112.1 MPH - Single
Edward Olivares - PIT - 109.8 MPH - Groundout
Oneil Cruz - PIT - 108.1 MPH - Home Run
Javier Rivas - BRD - 107.2 MPH - Field Error
Grant Koch - IND - 107.2 MPH - Double
Top Pitch Velocity
Aroldis Chapman - PIT - 98.8 MPH
Aroldis Chapman - PIT - 98.6 MPH
Colin Holderman - PIT - 98.6 MPH
Aroldis Chapman - PIT - 98.3 MPH
Colin Holderman - PIT - 98.3 MPH
Most Whiffs
Quinn Priester - IND - 17
JP Massey - GBO - 11
Marco Gonzales - PIT - 11
Kyle Nicolas - IND - 9
Bubba Chandler - ALT - 9
Chris Gau - ALT - 9
Michael Kennedy - BRD - 9
Game 1: Indianapolis Indians - 2 vs Toledo Mud Hens - 3
Top Hitter - Liover Peguero: 2-3, R, 2 RBI, HR
Top Pitcher - Kyle Nicolas: 2 IP, H, BB, 5 K
Game 2: Indianapolis Indians - 4 vs Toledo Mud Hens - 13
Top Hitter - Grant Koch: 2-3, R, RBI, 2B, HR
Top Pitcher -JC Flowers: 2 IP, 4 H, 2 ER, 2 BB, K
Game 1: Altoona Curve - 5 vs Harrisburg Senators - 3
Top Hitter - Abrahan Gutierrez: 2-3, 2 R, RBI, 2B
Top Pitcher - Bubba Chandler: 4 IP, 2 BB, 6 K
Game 2: Altoona Curve - 3 vs Harrisburg Senators - 7
Top Hitter: Tres Gonzalez: 1-2, R, 2 BB
Top Pitchers: Chris Gau: 2.1 IP, 4 K
Greensboro Grasshoppers - 4 vs Winston Salem Dash - 1
Top Hitter - Rodolfo Nolasco: 1-4, 2B, 2 RBI
Top Pitcher - Dominic Perachi: 3 IP, H, BB, 2 K
Bradenton Marauders - 3 vs Lakeland Flying Tigers - 4
Top Hitter - Juan Jerez: 2-4, R, 2B
Top Pitcher - Yoldin De La Paz: 1.2 IP, 2 BB, 4 K
Probable Pitchers
Pittsburgh Pirates - Mitch Keller
Indianapolis Indians - Michael Plassmeyer
Altoona Curve - Anthony Solometo
Greensboro Grasshoppers - Wilber Dotel
Bradenton Marauders - Khristian Curtis
Dylan Crews stinks.
Surprised nobody is mentioning Davis’ pass ball that lead to the game winning run. Also, Cruz had a play going to his right that had had kept it in the infield would’ve prevented another run. Games like yesterday, you need to play well defensively. Had they played well defensively, they win the game.