Pirates Show Fight Early But Go Out With Whimper in Rough Start for Ashcraft
· Yahoo Sports
The Pittsburgh Pirates showed plenty of heart in the early innings of their 6-3 loss in Atlanta on Saturday, June 6, battling back from an early three run deficit to tie the game.
After securing the tying run, however, the rug got pulled out from under the Pirates (34-31). The Braves answered with a three-run rally in the bottom of the fifth that they never found a response to.
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Scoring Plays
Bottom 1st, 2-0 ATL: The Braves drew first blood against the usually-reliable Braxton Ashcraft, Ronald Acuña Jr. and Mauricio Dubón hitting back-to-back singles to start things off. Ozzie Albies plated Acuña on a sacrifice fly and Austin Riley doubled home another.
Bottom 3rd, 3-0 ATL: Albies and Dubón worked a double steal in the third, an Endy Rodríguez throwing error leaving no doubt about the result.
Top 4th, 3-2 ATL: Bryan Reynolds and Nick Gonzales traded doubles the following inning. Oneil Cruz walked and Tyler Callihan doubled, plating Gonzales, but Cruz got thrown out at home to end the inning.
Top 5th, 3-3: The Pirates played small ball in the fifth, Jared Triolo hitting a leadoff single before taking second on a wild pitch. Triolo advanced another 90 feet on a groundball to first, then came home as the tying run on a sacrifice fly from Brandon Lowe.
Bottom 5th, 6-3 ATL: The Braves punched back in the home half of the inning, Albies recording a sacrifice fly RBI before a two-run homer from Dominic Smith.
Key Moments
While the Pirates managed to claw their way back in the game after falling behind 3-0 early, Braxton Ashcraft’s inability to take advantage of a brand new ballgame ended up spelling their doom. Three runs in the bottom of the fifth quashed any chance at positive momentum for Pittsburgh.
Player of the Game
Albies, who didn’t record a hit, walk or hit by pitch but still managed to plate two runs and manufacture another as the catalyst in a double steal.
Stat to Know
Braxton Ashcraft has allowed more than two runs in just three of 13 starts this season. Following the previous two outings, he rebounded to pitch at least seven quality innings.
Notable Performances
- Nick Gonzales: 2-for-4 with a double
- Tyler Callihan: 1-for-3 with a double and a walk
- Oneil Cruz: 0-for-1 with three walks
Up Next
The Pirates will send right-hander Bubba Chandler (2-6, 4.89 ERA, 55 SO) to the mound against Bryce Elder (5-3, 2.63 ERA, 67 SO) looking to avoid a sweep at the hands of the Braves.
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