One rough sequence spoils Lodolo's bounceback bid

PITTSBURGH -- Nick Lodolo was on track to get exactly the kind of start he needed to rebound from a shaky stretch on Thursday at PNC Park. Through four innings, he had allowed only one hit, while striking out eight Pirates batters.

But some command issues in the fifth allowed the Pirates to hang around in a scoreless game, before a mismanaged two-out pickle dominoed into an unfortunate fifth inning and a 7-0 loss to the Bucs in the series opener.

Lodolo held the Pirates hitless through the first 3 2/3 innings of his start, using his curveball and sinker to devastating effect; by the end of his start, Lodolo had generated 10 whiffs on 16 swings combined between the two offerings.

"Pretty much everything [was working],” Lodolo said. “I was able to elevate the ball. I was spinning it early and late. The changeup was good to get me back into at-bats."

In the fifth, Lodolo got a quick groundout before walking Jared Triolo and striking out Yasmani Grandal. Nothing seemed amiss until he walked No. 9 batter Michael A. Taylor, then plunked Isiah Kiner-Falefa on the foot with a curveball to load the bases.

Lodolo got Bryan Reynolds to two strikes quickly, but the Pirates outfielder was able to ground a ball up the middle that was fielded cleanly by Elly De La Cruz. With the arm that De La Cruz possesses -- he ranks fourth in arm strength among 56 players with at least 50 throws (91.2 mph) -- his best chance might have been going to first for the third out, though Reynolds was blazing down the line at 29.1 ft/sec.

Instead, De La Cruz tossed to second baseman Santiago Espinal, who got turned around with his glove to the bag and had to reach back with his bare hand to secure the catch. By that time, Kiner-Falefa -- who ran straight through the bag instead of sliding -- had safely reached and turned toward third base.

The Reds still had another chance to escape on the same play: They had Kiner-Falefa in a rundown, with Taylor still lingering at third base instead of clearly breaking for home. However, third baseman Noelvi Marte turned to Taylor and hesitated for a bit too long, allowing Kiner-Falefa to slide in safely and keep the bases loaded.

"That play started with a great baserunning play by their baserunner [Kiner-Falefa]," said manager David Bell. "Up until that point I thought we did everything the right way, they just made a good play. But absolutely, Noelvi has to get rid of the ball quicker and try to get out of that rundown, get out of there. Obviously, you don’t know what’s going to happen after that, but you want to get every out that you possibly can and not create opportunities.”

But Lodolo put the blame on himself, recognizing that he had Reynolds where he wanted him and he didn’t execute.

"I got the guy to two strikes, and I didn’t finish him,” Lodolo said. “That’s kind of been the name of the game recently: Getting guys to two strikes and not finishing them. I definitely did a better job of that tonight, but at the same time, in the fifth there, I have to find a way to get another out."

Instead of potentially polishing off a bounceback start after lasting only 2 1/3 innings last time out in Kansas City, Lodolo was left with an out to get, and he could not get it. He plunked Joey Bart to drive in another run and was pulled for Jakob Junis, who gave up a bases-clearing double to Bryan De La Cruz and an RBI single to Oneil Cruz in a six-run inning.

Lodolo began the season by showing what a healthy version of himself could do at the top of his game, posting a 2.96 ERA in 12 starts. But since the calendar turned to July, Lodolo hasn’t quite been able to consistently find that form. In two of his past five starts he allowed eight runs, and he’s only completed six innings once over that span.

On Thursday, it was just one pesky out that unraveled things, but the Reds still see the gains Lodolo has made to snap out of it.

"Over the last month or so, it was probably the best fastball-breaking ball combination that he’s had, which is a great sign for him,” Bell said of Lodolo’s start on Thursday. “It’s closer to what it was midseason when he was pitching well."