CINCINNATI — The fourth inning was a frame of “what ifs” for the Pittsburgh Pirates.
Bailey Falter could have done a better job of keeping his four-seam fastball up in the zone. He also could have backed up home plate on a one-out double.
Although, Oneil Cruz could have relayed a better throw home than the one that skipped past Yasmani Grandal. The Pirates backstop could have gotten in front of the one-hopper, too.
Yet aside from giving up five runs in the fourth, the Pirates could have done a great deal better in general during an 11-5 loss to the Reds on Monday night at Great American Ball Park. On the heels of his best start in June, Falter failed to make it past the fourth inning, pressing some middle relievers that have struggled mightily in recent weeks into action.
Justin Bruihl, recalled from Triple-A Indianapolis on Sunday due to David Bednar landing on the 15-day injured list with a strained left oblique, recorded just one out in the fifth before being lifted for Dennis Santana.
The right-hander who the Pirates claimed off waivers from the New York Yankees earlier this month promptly gave up a two-run single. Santana later took a line drive off his right arm, and was treated for a right arm contusion after the game. His status is day-to-day.
No reliever labored more, however, than Daulton Jefferies, who gave up three runs in his Pirates debut on Friday. In the sixth, Jefferies served up a middle-middle 90 mph cutter to Elly De La Cruz that didn’t cut; the Reds slugger obliged with the offering and cranked it onto a riverboat structure in center field for a two-run shot.
Jefferies gave up four runs, raising his season-long ERA to 14.90 in four games. But, the Pirates’ woes commenced with Falter’s inability to go deeper than four innings for the third time in four June starts.
His scuffles set up a battered and beleaguered Pirates bullpen up for failure, and in turn the whole team in their third loss in four games.
On the mound
Falter, who gave up only two runs across seven innings against the Reds last Tuesday, was perfect through the first three innings of the game. He efficiently maneuvered through the Reds’ lineup and induced plenty of soft contact.
Yet he seemingly couldn’t get out of the fourth, failing to keep his four-seam fastball, one that was so critical to his success the first two months of the year, down in the zone.
Four of Cincinnati’s five hits off Falter in the inning were on his heater, and the only one that didn’t come on a pitch in the bottom quadrant was on a fastball down Broadway.
In four June starts, Falter has compiled a 6.63 ERA. Conversely, the left-hander entered the month with a 3.22 ERA.
At the plate
While the struggles of the Pirates’ pitching staff proved insurmountable, they did generate five runs, their most in a game since the finale of the Rockies series.
Bryan Reynolds extended his career-long hitting streak to 21 games, and Oneil Cruz hit a no-doubt home run as part of his three RBI day. Edward Olivares had his second three-hit game as a Pirate, and reached base in all four of his plate appearances.
But aside from a few notable performances, their Pirates’ work in the batter’s box proved irrelevant in comparison to their troubles on the mound.
Up next
Tuesday: Pirates vs. Reds, 7:10 p.m. ET, Great American Ball Park.
Probable pitchers: RHP Mitch Keller (8-4, 3.11) for Pirates; RHP Hunter Greene (5-2, 3.35) for Reds.
Key matchup: Keller entered Tuesday’s game with a career 5.44 ERA against the Reds. He held Cincinnati to no runs across seven innings his last time out.
Hidden stat: The Pirates brought a season-long 64 inning errorless streak into Monday’s game.
Wednesday: Pirates at Reds, 1:10 p.m., Great American Ball Park.
Probable pitchers: TBD for Pirates; LHP Andrew Abbott (6-6, 3.66) for Reds.
