DENVER -- Billy Cook’s spike did indeed make contact with Kyle Karros’ glove. It’s frustrating, sure. But it’s technically obstruction, the call ending the Pirates’ 2-1 loss to the Rockies on Saturday at Coors Field.
Paul Skenes also pitched well, despite concern among the fanbase regarding his velocity. Skenes delivered his third consecutive quality start while striking out eight, but the Pirates (38-39) failed to win a game where Skenes started for the seventh straight time.
But there a few other things to explain what happened in the middle game of this series, and they actually don’t involve crew chief Todd Tichenor’s pool report, in which he explained why Cook was called out.
“He has to avoid the fielder making a play on the ball,” Tichenor said. “That is it. That is plain as it can be. There was contact made as he was in the act of fielding the baseball.”
The bigger takeaway, at least from this seat, involves the injured Konnor Griffin and Oneil Cruz and how badly the Pirates seem to miss them.
Pittsburgh is a different and more dynamic team with Griffin and Cruz in the lineup.
“Tonight, and a couple of [the Skenes losses], we haven't hit, which we've got to do better,” Pirates manager Don Kelly said. “We have to find a way there, especially when we get an opportunity in the ninth inning to score. We have to get it done.”
They did not in this one.
Or Friday.
And along with the blown saves, that’s obviously not isolated to Coors Field.
Brandon Lowe opened the ninth with a double to right-center, and Bryan Reynolds gave the Pirates runners on the corners with one out when he took a two-strike curveball up the middle.
But Ryan O’Hearn had an uncharacteristic chase on a two-strike curve, and after Nick Gonzales was hit in the left shoulder, Tyler Callihan walked to the plate with a second bases-loaded opportunity in as many days.
Again, Callihan struck out. SportsNet Pittsburgh cameras showed him on the bench, head in hands, clearly upset with himself. And it’s hardly just that.
Whether Mangum would’ve been safe or not, the Pirates didn’t do enough against Rockies starter Tomoyuki Sugano, who entered the game with a 7.22 expected ERA that put him in the first percentile (yes, first) across MLB while allowing 13 home runs in 14 starts.
Furthermore, among pitchers who worked at least 150 innings since the start of last season, Sugano had allowed the fourth-most home runs (46) prior to Saturday’s game, while opponents were batting .377 against his sinker.
Much like Kyle Freeland the night before, the Pirates failed to take advantage of the opportunity, the trickle-down with Griffin and Cruz being out obvious.
From the third through the eighth inning, the Pirates had one hit and made Rockies pitchers faced one more than the minimum.
“There could be a case that they're trying too hard with Paul being on the mound,” Kelly said. “But they certainly want to score runs, which we've been much better at this year.
“There have just been games where we haven't been.”
The Pirates are now 1-10 this season when Skenes allowed three or more hits.
As for the Pirates ace, I thought he grinded it out well on a night where he didn’t have his best command, issuing four free passes on walks and hit batters.
Still, Skenes finished with eight strikeouts, 19 whiffs and fanned four of the final seven men he faced, finishing with a flurry. Same as the entire season, Skenes’ fastball -- despite a slight drop in velocity -- performed very well.
On the season, Skenes’ four-seamer has a run value of 9, per Baseball Savant. Only nine such pitches across MLB have been better.
“Obviously hit a couple guys, walked a couple guys. Just command overall wasn't great,” Skenes said. “Wasn't getting ahead of guys. You're gonna have those outings. Just kind of throw everything out the window and figure out how to get outs.”
Skenes did more than enough.
With a 2.86 ERA, that’s been the case the entire season, despite the freakout over his win-loss record, fastball velocity or how many pitches he throws through six innings. He’s going to the All-Star Game and has been the furthest thing from a problem.
I can’t say the same for the bullpen.
And how the offense -- tied for 16th in runs this month with 82 despite ranking sixth when looking at the entire year -- is clearly feeling the effects of not having Cruz and Griffin, multi-tool threats who obviously help in the heart of the order while also nudging everyone else into proper roles.
Without them, mistakes have been magnified. Things like Mangum incorrectly trying to advance to third base on a ball hit to shortstop in the second inning Saturday. Or struggles with men on base or executing late-game situational stuff.
The Pirates simply can’t show up to Coors Field, score four runs in two games and expect to win. But now, as the obstruction call threatens to obstruct some momentum gained in Sacramento, the Pirates must overcome arguably their toughest loss of the year.
They need to flush it and find a way to end this trip on a positive note.
“We've had a couple of them where we're really close to winning,” Skenes said. “I don't think we're playing our best baseball right now, but we're not necessarily playing terrible baseball.”
Added Mangum, “We’re gonna bounce back [Sunday] and be ready to play. We have 12 hours to flush this and salvage the series.”
Jason Mackey: Jason.Mackey@pirates.com and @JMackey_PGH on X.