CINCINNATI -- Sometimes, you just can¡¯t buy a break.
The Pirates created two golden run-scoring opportunities in the first two innings against Reds ace Hunter Greene on Sunday afternoon, putting runners in scoring position with a chance to jump out in front early. In both cases, they hit two flares that would normally fall in for hits.
Alexander Canario¡¯s soft liner had an .880 expected batting average, according to Baseball Savant, but it was hit right at shortstop Elly De La Cruz. In the second, Henry Davis¡¯ bloop had a .930 expected batting average, but second baseman Santiago Espinal was able to backtrack and make a snowcone catch.
That¡¯s the way it¡¯s been for Pittsburgh¡¯s offense. When it rains, it pours, and when it doesn¡¯t rain, it¡¯s the Sahara. After those failed chances to get on the board, the Bucs would not create another opportunity. Their final 23 hitters were retired, and the Pirates would go on to a 4-0 loss to the Reds in the series finale at Great American Ball Park, being swept for the first time this season.
It was a series where the pitching gave up only 14 hits (though walks, hit batters and errors in the field often came back to haunt).
¡°I thought we pitched well, or well enough to win,¡± manager Derek Shelton said. ¡°Offensively, we've got to be better. Right now, we have some improvement to do offensively.¡±
No argument there.
After Sunday¡¯s loss, the Pirates rank last in the Majors in batting average (.184), slugging percentage (.290) and OPS (.563), and they are tied for the third-fewest runs scored (50). The season is still young, but this was their 16th game, the one-tenth mark of the season. The sample size is still small, but no longer microscopic.
¡°Got to cash in [on] situational hitting,¡± said Isiah Kiner-Falefa, who went 1-for-3 with a triple. ¡°I think we've just got to do the little things better. It's been tough. Dealing with a lot of injuries right now, but there's no excuse. Next guy up.
¡°This is not fun. This sucks, but there's one way to go and see what we're made of.¡±
Since Kiner-Falefa addressed the injured elephant in the room, this isn¡¯t the lineup the Pirates envisioned to be rolling out in mid-April. Nick Gonzales is on the injured list with a non-displaced left ankle fracture, and he was removed mid-game Opening Day after hitting a home run. Spencer Horwitz, their big offseason trade, has yet to have an at-bat in a Pirate uniform after undergoing surgery on his right wrist shortly before Spring Training got underway.
Jared Triolo is on the injured list, too. Bryan Reynolds is dealing with a right shoulder injury that has limited him to designated hitter duties, forcing Andrew McCutchen to play more outfield than originally intended. McCutchen isn¡¯t an everyday option in the field anymore at 38 years old, so Reynolds and he can share a lineup only roughly half the time.
Even Oneil Cruz had been on the shelf the past few days after being plunked in the left hand on Tuesday. He returned to the lineup on Sunday, where he went hitless with a walk and a stolen base.
There can be optimism that this is just the worst of the storm and things can get better when players get healthier, but they can¡¯t just wait for it to happen. They know they have to find a way to manufacture runs now.
¡°We can't let opportunities be squandered,¡± Shelton said. ¡°We have to capitalize on opportunities when we do have them. The other thing is, we can't look around and say, 'Hey, these guys aren't in our lineup.' The guys that are here need to execute, need to get the job done.¡±
¡°We've got to find ways to win games,¡± Kiner-Falefa said. ¡°Otherwise, it's not good. This is unacceptable. We've got to play better."