Most- lopsided loss of year caps sweep
KANSAS CITY, Mo. — It probably sounds laughable at this point, but the final few weeks of the 2020 season aren’t about a playoff push for the Pirates. Obviously, as one particular coach in Pittsburgh might say.
But while they seemingly punted on that dream long ago — hello offseason additions Guillermo Heredia,
Luke Maile, Jarrod Dyson, Robbie Erlin and JT Riddle — the big- picture goal at this point should’ve been clarity.
After an 11- 0 loss to the Royals Sunday at Kauffman Stadium, it’s frightening to think how little of that the Pirates ( 14- 30) actually have. Their most- lopsided loss of the season completed a series sweep for Kansas City and dropped the Pirates to 2- 15 against the American League’s Central Division, but it also raised questions about what’s happening here.
Four things stand out about this one, including a no- show by the offense, more defensive gaffes and some head- scratching decisions with playing time. But let’s start with the game’s starting pitcher, Chad Kuhl.
The Pirates’ best starter for much of this season, it was a rough outing for Kuhl as his fastball command lacked. He had a .198 batting average against over his first six starts, allowing two or fewer runs in four of those, but Sunday, he lasted just 2⅓ innings. He allowed nine earned runs on four hits and six walks, not to mention a wild pitch, a home run allowed and hitting a batter.
“Just had no fastball command, really,” he said.
Kuhl said he has been bothered by intermittent cuticle and blister issues, though he didn’t directly blame them for his erratic performance. “We went to all breaking- ball stuff just to try to get some quick outs, but I just didn’t have it today.”
The issue remains what to make of Kuhl this season, and it’s probably an incomplete grade because he’s coming back from Tommy John surgery.
It also stands to reason that the Pirates would like to see progress out of someone they’ll need to stabilize their rotation in 2021.
This did little to assuage any concerns there, although the start might’ve gone differently had more fielding issues not cropped up in the first inning, which is issue No. 2 of concern.
Riddle booted a grounder to his left, allowing a run to score, although it was inexplicably ruled a hit, not an error. Josh Bell also botched a grounder, an in- between hop, that forced him to get the out at first, allowing another run to score.
Then what Shelton called “a freak play” unfolded when a wild pitch from Kuhl hit home- plate umpire Jeremie Rehak in the mask, nobody could find it, and the Royals ended up scoring two.
Not only have the Pirates failed to make meaningful progress in the field, but they also might have regressed. Their best defender has been Ke’Bryan Hayes, who didn’t play because Shelton didn’t want to overwork him with a doubleheader Monday, which sort of makes sense except for the fact that Hayes ( and the team) was off Monday and Thursday last week.
So while Sunday offered some interesting nuggets for the present — Royals starter Brad Keller twirled a completegame shutout, the Pirates twice got a runner to second, and Kansas City hit two homers that totaled nearly 900 feet — the greater frustration has to be the lack of clarity that has been achieved.
“You’re always going to have games like this that are pretty ugly,” Kuhl said. “You just want to put this one behind you and gauge yourself based off of the bulk of your work and not just one bad game.”