Morning Rundown: Skenes loses pitching duel, Pirates drop series
Pirates lose rubber match to Brewers.
A four-run second inning doomed the Pittsburgh Pirates, as Paul Skenes took the worst end of a highly anticipated pitching matchup against Jacob Misiorowski.
Skenes allowed four runs on four hits and two walks over four innings, dropping to 4-7 on the season. The rookie Misiorowski is now 3-0 in three starts in the majors after tossing five shutout innings, walking two, and striking out eight.
Spencer Horwitz and Tommy Pham drove in runs, but it wasn’t enough, and the Pirates dropped two of three on the road against the Brewers.
Mike Burrows pitched out of the bullpen, tossing 2.1 shutout innings, walking one and striking out one.
The Pirates will have an off day on Thursday before a three-game weekend series against the New York Mets at PNC Park.
Zander Mueth was activated off the injured list and pitched for the Bradenton Marauders on Wednesday. He was pitching in the third when the game was suspended due to the weather.
At that point, he had allowed three runs (two earned) on five hits and two walks, striking out two.
Anthony Solometo was a late scratch on Tuesday while on rehab assignment with the Bradenton Marauders. It was at first believed to be due to the delay in the game, but now it appears he is dealing with shoulder soreness. His rehab assignment was ended, and he will be monitored at Pirate City.
Top Exit Velocity
Liover Peguero - IND - 110 mph - Single
Shawn Ross - IND - 108.1 mph - Single
Ronny Simon - IND - 105.1 mph - Home Run
Alika Williams - IND - 104.9 mph - Groundout
Bryan Reynolds - PIT - 103.1 mph - Single
Top Pitch Velocity
Paul Skenes - PIT - 100.2 mph
Paul Skenes - PIT - 99.7 mph
Paul Skenes - PIT - 99.7 mph
Paul Skenes - PIT - 99.6 mph
Paul Skenes - PIT - 99.6 mph
Most Whiffs
Drake Fellows - IND - 15
Paul Skenes - PIT - 10
Blake Townsend - ALT - 9
Randy Labaut - IND - 7
Justin Meis - ALT - 6
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Indianapolis Indians - 5 vs Omaha Storm Chasers - 7
Top Hitter - Ronny Simon: 1-4, BB, HR, R, 4 RBI
Top Pitcher - Drake Fellows: 3.2 IP, 2 H, 2 K
Altoona Curve - 4 vs Chesapeake Baysox - 2
Top Hitter - Wyatt Hendrie: 1-3, HR, 2 RBI, R
Top Pitcher - Brandan Bidois: 2 IP, H, BB, 3 K
Greensboro Grasshoppers - 3 vs Winston-Salem Dash
Top Hitter - Jesus Castillo: 2-3, RBI, BB
Top Pitcher - Carlson Reed: 5 IP, H, ER, 2 BB, 7 K
Here are my 2nd inning observations from yesterday when the Brewers scored 4.
1) After walking Collins to lead off the second, Skenes threw over to first twice which allowed him to get an extra step and steal on the next pitch. Skenes then got the next hitter to hit into a tailor made double play to short, but IKF was breaking to cover the throw at second. Instead of two outs no one on, it was no outs and beginning of an ugly inning.
2) I might need some help on this one from someone watching on TV. With the bases loaded, a ground ball to Skenes he took the sure out to first, but from where I was sitting it looked like there was a sure out at the plate. Not a big deal, imo.
3) Bases loaded Nick did the complete opposite. He threw home with no chance of getting the runner at home when he had an easy out at first.
4) (Except for Skenes) Kelly and the team seemed to be playing like it was a tie game in the 9th. We gambled witht the infield in and the Brewers are one of the last teams you want to do that to. It seemed like we lost that gamble. I don't think the Brewers hit the ball as far as an outfielder on a fly that inning, but still got 4 runs.
5) It's hard for the Pirates to string together a big inning when you have 4 guys hitting under .210 while the Brewers have zero guys under .210 in the line-up.
6) Guys like Skenes and Keller are pressing or pitching differently because they are on a team that doesn't score.... to go along with a manager that has to manage like the game is on the line in the second inning.
7) Nevertheless, the trip to Milwaukee was fun... but could have been better if I found a way to meet up with HeyFred.
Excellent pitching from Carlson Reed at GBO. A 4th Round pick in 2023 out of WVU, Reed is still only in his age 22 season, and came out of college as a Big 12 All-Conference Relief Pitcher. The Pirates converted him to a SP and he did very well in BRD last year, and is just getting started this year at A+.
Hard to understand why OF/1B Esmerlyn Valdez, 21, and C/1B Omar Alfonzo, 22, are still at A+. And then, is it really hard to understand? The writer on the Pirate page (Stumpf) was also wondering about why Valdez has not been promoted. It's a good read. We did manage to promote 3 or 4 pitchers to AA and a 9th Round MI, so it's still Pirate business as usual.