The Pittsburgh Pirates were hoping to salvage a win in their three-game series against the Houston Astros on Wednesday, but they came up short in a 3-0 loss at Minute Maid Park.
The Pirates were shut out for the second time in the series and the fourth time this season, as they managed only four hits and one walk against Astros starter Luis Garcia and three relievers.
The Pirates wasted a solid outing from veteran left-hander Rich Hill, who bounced back from a rough debut with his new team last week. Hill pitched five innings and allowed two runs on four hits and two walks, while striking out six.
He gave up a solo homer to Jose Altuve in the first inning and an RBI double to Carlos Correa in the third, but otherwise kept the Astros in check.
Hill said he felt more comfortable on the mound after working on some adjustments with pitching coach Oscar Marin between starts.
“I felt like I was able to execute better today,” Hill said. “I was able to get ahead of hitters and use all my pitches effectively. I still have some things to work on, but it was a step in the right direction.”
The Pirates’ offense, however, could not support Hill or the bullpen, which combined for three scoreless innings. The Pirates had some chances to score, but they could not come up with a timely hit. They left six runners on base and went 0-for-6 with runners in scoring position.
The Pirates’ best opportunity came in the fourth inning, when they loaded the bases with one out against Garcia. But Bryan Reynolds popped out to shortstop and Colin Moran struck out swinging to end the threat.
Manager Derek Shelton said he was frustrated by the lack of offense, especially after the Pirates scored 11 runs in their win over the Astros on Tuesday.
“We have to be more consistent,” Shelton said. “We have to put more pressure on the opposing pitchers and make them work harder. We have to find ways to score runs when we have runners on base. We can’t rely on one big inning or one big hit.”
The Pirates fell to 48-67 with the loss, while the Astros improved to 70-46 with the win. The Pirates will have an off day on Thursday before starting a three-game series against the St. Louis Cardinals at PNC Park on Friday.
Final Thoughts: Pirates Fall Short in Houston
The Pittsburgh Pirates’ struggles continued as they lost the series finale against the Houston Astros 3-0. The Pirates’ offense was unable to generate any runs, despite a solid performance from Rich Hill on the mound.
Hill bounced back from his rough debut and gave up only two runs over five innings, while striking out six. His ability to keep the Astros’ batters in check should be a positive takeaway for the Pirates.
However, the lack of support from the Pirates’ offense, which managed only four hits and one walk, left Hill and the bullpen with no margin for error. The Pirates had a chance to score in the fourth inning when they loaded the bases with one out, but they were unable to capitalize on the opportunity.
Manager Derek Shelton expressed his frustration with the team’s inconsistent offense, which has been a recurring problem for the Pirates this season. The team’s inability to produce runs has resulted in several shutouts and has put additional pressure on the pitching staff.
While the Pirates fell short in Houston, they will have a chance to regroup during their off day on Thursday before starting a new series against the St. Louis Cardinals.
The Pirates will need to focus on improving their offensive consistency and finding ways to score runs when they have runners in scoring position. If they can do that, they will have a better chance to compete and win games.
