Pirates' offense runs stale again against Cardinals rookie Mathews

ST. LOUIS -- Don Kelly knew his team needed to find a balance. In San Diego, the Pirates took two of three from the Padres, a clear positive. The series ended in frustration, though, with Pittsburgh going 1-for-13 with runners in scoring position in a shutout loss Wednesday.

“We’ve got to keep going,” the Pirates’ manager said prior to Friday’s game against the Cardinals at Busch Stadium. “[The] team has fought all year really hard, and this is no different.”

Pittsburgh answered its frustration with another step backward. Facing rookie left-hander Quinn Mathews in his fourth career start, the Pirates tallied one run on six hits in a 4-1 loss. Seven games into a nine-game road trip, the Bucs have scored 12 runs overall, 1.7 per game, and dropped to 13-30 versus lefty starters this season.

“With the offense, we've been so good this year, and we need to get back to doing what we do, which is what we talked a lot about: keeping the line moving, finding a way to have team at-bats and trusting each other going through the process,” Kelly said postgame.

“We're getting outside of that right now. Guys are going up there trying to carry it, and it's not on any one person. We have to get collective team at-bats, and continue to grind like we have all year because our offense has been good.”

At least in San Diego, the Pirates had their chances. In St. Louis, Pittsburgh didn’t collect a hit until the fourth inning against Mathews. The rookie allowed seven runs on 10 hits just six days ago in Philadelphia, failing to find any rhythm. Against the Pirates, he looked like a seasoned veteran.

Mathews spun his five-pitch arsenal with ease, keeping Pittsburgh off balance and striking out seven batters, all without his four-seam fastball. His slider was most effective, striking out three hitters, including Bryan Reynolds and Esmerlyn Valdez. Kelly pointed out that the Pirates expanded the zone for Mathews.

As Mathews continued to carve into the sixth inning, he had some run support. The Cardinals led 3-0 as the Pirates’ defense made two third-inning errors and Jared Jones gave up three earned runs. Pittsburgh broke through against Mathews with an RBI single from Jared Triolo in the fifth, but that was all the offense the Pirates could muster.

Triolo advanced to second on the throw and Henry Davis stood on third, but Valdez left the tying runs in scoring position with a strikeout on the changeup. When Mathews was later pulled in the sixth with two outs, he exited to a standing ovation as he became the latest pitcher to shut down the Pirates.

“I don't know what it is about lefties,” Reynolds said. “I feel like we had a couple where we started getting to them. … Figure out ways to pass the baton against them.”

With the Pirates’ righty-heavy lineup having no solutions, Kelly made a few substitutions once the right-handed St. Louis relievers emerged from the bullpen. Brandon Lowe entered for Nick Yorke, Spencer Horwitz came in for Davis and Jacob Gonzalez batted in place of Triolo.

The Pirates’ once-firepowered attack has grown stale in recent weeks. As the offense declined throughout the summer, multiple hitters continued to produce. Lowe barrelled toward 30 homers. Nick Gonzales emerged with a top batting average in the National League. Valdez produced as the National League’s best rookie hitter in July, and even as of late, Oneil Cruz provided some late-game heroics.

The Pirates nearly overcame their offensive woes. With two outs in the eighth, Reynolds crept off of first base as Cruz hammered a ball through the right side. The ball deflected off Reynolds before passing through to right field, ending the inning and snuffing out a potential scoring threat.

“I know some guys have been grinding here and there, but I think we just have to reset,” Reynolds said. “We knew we were good. Just passing to the next guy, finding ways, [getting] on base.”