When the Pirates have shown signs of pulling themselves off the mat in the second half, starting pitching has been arguably been their biggest aid. Yet when they’ve struggled, that aspect has usually been the primary culprit.
After taking two of three from the Red Sox over the weekend and showing improvement with starting pitching, that facet of their game did cooperate on Monday. Carmen Mlodzinski struggled for the third straight start during an 8-5 loss to the Tigers at PNC Park.
Mlodzinski allowed four runs (all earned) in three innings, putting the Pirates in an early hole from which they could not recover.
The loss dropped the Pirates to 61-66. Overall, their pitchers walked seven and allowed 14 hits. Eight of those came in the first three innings off Mlodzinski, who has now allowed 13 earned runs in 8 1/3 innings (14.04 ERA) since rejoining the starting rotation.
"It was a tough one," Mlodzinski said. "Last three have been rough for me. It's part of the game. I wish I would have been able to step up. But just looking forward to trying to get back on track."
Pittsburgh trailed, 4-0, after two, and things really got away during a lengthy sixth inning that caused Yohan Ramírez to throw 44 pitches, the result of three walks.
Mlodzinski’s struggles were evident from the first batter of the game, when he walked designated hitter Gleyber Torres. Right fielder Zach McKinstry and Lee made Mlodzinski pay for fastballs over the heart of the plate, each singling to left to stake the Tigers to a 2-0 lead.
The next inning, rookie phenom Kevin McGonigle doubled the advantage with his homer to deep right-center on another mis-executed pitch, this time an 0-1 cutter that sat middle-middle. The Tigers third baseman blasted it 405 feet at 104.6 mph for his 13th of the season.
"It seemed like they were able to spoil some off-speed stuff, and he didn’t quite get the chase that he sometimes does," Pirates manager Don Kelly said. "They were able to get back on the fastball and cutter and got hold of a few.”
The Tigers came out of the chute with an aggressive approach, and it paid off. Their first four run-scoring hits came in the first or second pitch of an at-bat.
Mlodzinski talked after his last start about doing a deep dive on his mechanics, feeling off over the past few weeks. Speaking Monday, he added that it's been about six weeks since he's felt truly synched up with his mechanics.
It also sounded like the combination of that (lack of) feel and the numbers produced have affected Mlodzinski's confidence.
"I haven't really had a game in recent memory where I felt really connected mechanically, and my stuff has reflected that," Mlodzinski said. "Just trying to get back to a point where I physically feel good, mechanically feel connected and ultimately have some confidence out there as well."
Kelly spoke before the game about wanting Mlodzinski to attack more. Mlodzinski did some of that, throwing first-pitch strikes to 12 of 18 and seeing a slight uptick in velocity. At the same time, the Tigers hit five balls off Mlodzinski that went at least 101.7 mph.
"His key to success is limiting hard contact," Kelly said. "We just need to get back to doing that."
The trick is making that happen, wherever it comes in the game. Mlodzinski has been outstanding as a reliever. Meanwhile, the Pirates need to get better starting pitching than he provided.
It'll be interesting to see if they give Mlodzinski another shot this weekend or go in another direction.
"We just need to continue to have conversations," Kelly said. "He’s been in different roles and has been a huge pitcher for us. Did a really nice job coming out of the ‘pen, so we need to keep beating it up on the best position to put him in.”
Trailing, 8-1, after 5 1/3 innings, the Pirates rallied with four runs in the sixth inning to close within three. Nick Yorke, who also had a pair of hits Sunday, ripped a 3-1 sinker that was middle-in 111 mph to left for a bases-clearing double, giving Yorke a second straight two-hit game.
Henry Davis followed when he went up the middle with a two-strike fastball, scoring another run.
The other thing that eluded the Pirates on Monday was the big hit; they finished just 2 for 11 with runners in scoring position, stranding seven. They had a chance to build momentum in the seventh after a Javier Báez error at shortstop and a Gonzales walk put two on with one out.
But Brandon Lowe bounced to second, and Rafael Flores Jr. struck out swinging to end the threat.
Jason Mackey: Jason.Mackey@pirates.com and @JMackey_PGH on X.