Pirates commit four errors in 4-2 loss to Darvish, Padres
Gonzalez’s miscue in 6th inning opens door for deciding runs vs. Underwood
SAN DIEGO — One lesson the Pirates should’ve learned Wednesday was they can’t make four errors and expect to win the game.
OK, fine. They knew that already. But it did hold true, as the Padres capitalized on the final one of those and handed the Pirates a 4-2 loss at Petco Park. It marks the second consecutive series Pittsburgh has dropped while also losing six of its past seven.
But look beyond the errors for a second, which were actually somewhat odd. Erik Gonzalez made three Wednesday despite having not made one all year. He also had a dozen chances, the most for a Pirates third baseman since 1939.
Aside from the errors, the Pirates should feel good about at least three things that occurred Wednesday: another solid game from Bryan Reynolds, who’s very much entrenched in center field; a gutsy effort from JT Brubaker, who battled through five innings without his best stuff; and a taste of what PNC Park could eventually become should this fullscale rebuild turn out the way the Pirates hope.
Petco Park was absolutely rocking, as it should be given the excitement that surrounds the Padres these days.
“They’ re onto po fit ,” Shelton said of the fan suppor there. “They’re after it. And it’ s important for our guys, especially for our guys who played last year with nobody in the stands. This atmosphere, you talkabout teaching moments, growing
moments, this atmosphere is awesome for our group. I think we can build off of it.”
As for Reynolds, he homered Wednesday and totaled three doubles on Monday and Tuesday. Any lingering doubt over his timing or power should’ve been stomped out long ago. He looks very much like the player we saw in 2019, and along with Colin Moran, has been their most consistent run producer.
In the sixth inning Wednesday, Reynolds drove a first-pitch cutter the opposite way for his third home run of the season and first since April 18. It was the first for the Pirates in six games, since last Wednesday.
“I’m not going to live in the past,” Reynolds said when asked whether he’s rediscovered his 2019 form. “It’s 2021. I’m just trying to be the best version of myself, the best player I can be. That’s putting the barrel on the ball, trying to drive it and help us win. That’s my focus this year. I’m not trying to recreate anything.”
The decisive sequence came in the sixth inning, when Gonzalez booted a ball off the bat of catcher Victor Caratini. Pinch-hitter Trent Grisham followed with a double to give the Padres runners on second and third with nobody out.
After Duane Underwood Jr. struck out center fielder Tommy Pham, second baseman Jake Cronenworth lined a single into right, taking advantage of a 2- 0 changeup that broke over the middle of the plate.
Trailing2-1 after Reynolds’ homer, the Pirates tied the game after Gonzalez and Colin Moran stroked back-toback singles, and Gonzalez scored on Ka’ai Tom’s sacrifice fly to center, ending a rather impressive streak for Yu Darvish. The right -hander had enjoyed five consecutive starts that lasted at least six innings with no more than one run allowed.
As good as Darvish was early, Brubaker mostly matched him while pitching around some of his team’s defensive issues. Brubaker gave the Pirates (13-17) five innings and allowed two earned runs on six hits and three walks. It wasn’t Brubaker’s best start of the season, but he struck out seven and gave his team a chance.
“We’ve seen JT throw the ball really well,” Shelton said. “[Wednesday], he did not have his best stuff. He did not have the slider that he’s had. He struggled with execution of it. But to come back and do what he did, because of the miscues, I thought he threw the ball really well again.”
Brubaker showed solid command, throwing 60 of 93 pitches for strikes, and his sinker was especially nasty; it was what he used to get first baseman Eric Hosmer, left fielder Jurickson Profar and Pham all looking.
“It’s a small-margin pitch there that I’ve really been trying to work on and execute consistently,” Brubaker said.
The right-hander did not execute a sinker Caratini in the third, when he tried to go inside and didn’t go inside far enough. Caratini hit it over the fence. So be it. Solo shots won’t kill you. Brubaker was clearly upset, but showed some gumption by quickly turning the page.
Around the horn
Moran stole second base in the sixth inning. It was the first steal of his career. … Hunter Owen took a 95 mph fastball from Darvish to the hand in the sixth inning. He stayed in the game to run the bases, but exited as part of a double switch between innings. … Gonzalez became the first Pirates third baseman to make three errors in a game since Bobby Bonilla in 1989.