Familiar problem plagues Pirates, as they drop series finale in San Diego

SAN DIEGO — When the Pirates offense has struggled this season, it’s been pretty easy to diagnose the problem.

Either a left-handed pitcher has been on the mound, or the Pirates have been unable to convert with runners in scoring position. Sometimes both. A familiar problem resurfaced at a terrible time Wednesday, as the Pirates looked to complete a sweep of the Padres.

Despite a favorable starting pitcher matchup — a righty, no less — the Pirates struggled time and time again getting the key hit and ultimately dropped a 3-0 decision at Petco Park.

They finished 1 for 13 with runners in scoring position, stranding 10. Despite winning two of three games here, the Pirates had just two hits in 30 at-bats w/RISP (.067).

“You can throw any number of excuses out, but plain and simple, we just didn't do it,” Brandon Lowe said. “We just need to get the job done. We had the opportunities to do it and didn't do it."

So far this road trip, the Pirates have gone 8 for 54 (.148) with runners in scoring position … and four of those hits came in the first game of the Dodgers series.

Pittsburgh left the bases loaded in the fourth and seventh. They left two in the sixth and eighth, each time feeling more frustrating than the last.

As a result, they were shut out for the 15th time this season, the seventh since the All-Star break.

“It's been frustrating, and I wish there was a magic pill or wand we could wave to have guys get the hits,” Pirates manager Don Kelly said. “There's nobody that wants to get the hits more than the players do. But we have to be better in the approach and better in those moments.”

The eighth really felt like the Pirates might be able to break through, as Oneil Cruz — Tuesday's hero with his homer off Mason Miller — walked to the plate following singles from Bryan Reynolds and Esmerlyn Valdez.

But Cruz and Nick Gonzales struck out before Jake Mangum bounced out to second, ending the threat.

The loss dropped the Pirates’ record this season to 65-70. They could’ve really used a sweep, too. It would have set up three in St. Louis to potentially return home at .500 or a game below.

It feels hollow given the opportunity to the Pirates let slip through their fingers, but they did secure their first series victory against the Padres since July 2023.

On paper, this looked like an excellent matchup for the Pirates, as Padres starter Randy Vasquez entered Wednesday’s game allowing a .305 average .855 OPS to left-handed hitters. But the Pirates weren’t able to leverage a clear platoon edge, making too many quick outs against Vasquez, who worked five scoreless innings, giving up just one hit.

“When you're going up there and one after another guys aren't getting the job done, you feel it because guys want to get it done,” Kelly said. “But how do we stay in that approach, stay simple and have confidence and the belief in ourselves to go up there and get it done?”

Bubba Chandler was solid and kept the Pirates in the game. He induced a double play to end the first before Rafael Flores Jr. showed off his revamped throwing, gunning down left fielder Luis Rengifo at second base in the second.

However, before the throw, center fielder Jackson Merrill doubled, and Rengifo gave the Padres a 1-0 lead with his line-drive single to right field in the second, connecting on a 1-0 four-seamer that was up in the zone.

A Gonzales error cost in the Pirates in the fourth, allowing the Padres to double their lead. Gonzales rushed and threw wide of first. Third baseman Manny Machado (who reached), scored on Merrill’s line-drive triple to right at 103.6 mph.

The Pirates had another golden chance in the sixth. This time, Cronenworth made at least his third tremendous defensive play of the series, diving full extension to snare a liner from Reynolds, keeping Pittsburgh off the board.

Chandler worked 5 2/3 innings and gave up two runs (one earned) one four hits and two walks. He struck out three while throwing 54 of his 83 pitches for strikes.

“Thought I threw fine,” Chandler said. “Did a good job of controlling the running game and pitching with guys on base.”

Coming off a step-backward start his last time out, Chandler had some odd velocity things happening, where his four-seamer was down 1.9 mph, his sinker 1.2. It didn’t matter.

Chandler was effective and gave the Pirates a chance to win. Their offense simply couldn’t convert when it needed to. Given their precarious place in the standings, that needs to change immediately.

“Coming into a place like this and playing a team like this and walking out with a series win is still a good thing,” Lowe said. “Obviously everybody in here is upset we didn't walk away with three of them. But it's a very good team on the other side of it, and we took two out of three. Let's keep the momentum going and play well in St. Louis."

Jason Mackey: Jason.Mackey@pirates.com and @JMackey_PGH on X.