PHILADELPHIA -- Jameson Taillon extended his scoreless streak to 16 innings without any trouble. But the streak was ended -- and so was Taillon's start -- in the span of nine Phillies batters Thursday night.
Taillon, one of the National League's best pitchers in the season's first three weeks, had the shortest start of his Major League career as he could not get out of the second inning in the Pirates' eventual 7-0 loss to the Phillies. The 26-year-old righty gave up five runs on four hits, two walks and a hit batter and was pulled after just 1 2/3 innings.
Taillon was hurt by three run-producing hits, and they all came on 3-2 counts.
"It's probably what makes this one easier and tougher to chew on," Taillon said. "You got to realize you're always one pitch away and you have to make that pitch. Next time, I'll look to make that pitch and I'll look not to put myself in that spot, three-ball counts, hit by pitch with two strikes. I kind of did it to myself."
Taillon's trouble started against Rhys Hoskins, the first batter of the second inning. Hoskins drove a 3-2 fastball over the left-field fence for his third home run of the season.

The Phillies then loaded the bases with no outs via a walk, hit batter and bunt single. Taillon appeared to regain control of the inning by striking out catcher Jorge Alfaro and pitcher Jacob Arrieta, but Cesar Hernandez delivered the biggest blow of the frame.
Hernandez hit a bases-loaded single to center field, and three Phillies scored on the play with runners moving on a full count. After another walk, Odubel Herrera knocked Taillon out of the game with an RBI single.
"It just got to the point where it was too much volume jammed in one inning, he needed to come out," Pirates manager Clint Hurdle said. "He was one strike or one pitch away from getting out of the inning."
Taillon's tough inning marked the first time he allowed a run since his first start of the season on April 2 against the Twins. He entered the game with an 0.89 ERA -- the third-best mark in the National League -- and sees no reason why he can't rebound in his next start.
"It obviously didn't play well, but overall, it felt about the same," Taillon said of his pitches compared to his previous three outings. "If you make pitches you can turn that outing into just as good as the last couple, so I don't think it's a stuff thing."
Offensively, the Pirates struggled to figure out Arrieta. Facing the Bucs for the first time in a Phillies uniform, Arrieta tossed seven scoreless innings and notched 10 strikeouts while giving up just one hit. It was the second time in three games the Pirates were shut out.

MOMENTS THAT MATTERED
Defensive miscues: The Pirates didn't help Taillon much defensively in his 43-pitch second inning. With two runners on and no outs, third baseman Colin Moran got caught in between going for the ball and covering third base on a bunt from J.P. Crawford. On Hernandez's single to center field, the Pirates failed to make a throw to the plate, allowing Crawford to easily score from first.

"We made a bad read at third base because the ball was bunted hard, that's a play for Colin to make," Hurdle said. "The anticipation that you like to have in the middle, you have a flier at first base, it's a 3-2 count, he's running. If it's a single or ball placed to the outfield where the outfielder has to go 25-30 feet one way or the other, there's a potential play at the plate. I thought our reaction time was delayed there."
HE SAID IT
"That's the best movement and action I've seen on his fastball since 2015. He was crisp tonight, all his pitches. He pitched extremely, extremely well." -- Hurdle, on Arrieta's gem. Thursday's outing was Arrieta's 21st regular season start against the Pirates, his most against any opponent
UP NEXT
The Pirates continue their four-game set in Philadelphia on Friday night as Ivan Nova takes the mound. Nova has been sharp in both of his last two starts, piling up 15 strikeouts and no walks in that span. Ben Lively is set to throw the first pitch for the Phillies at 7:05 p.m. ET.