PITTSBURGH -- In a span of six short sentences, Ke'Bryan Hayes succinctly summarized what hasn’t gone the Pirates’ way over the past week-and-a-half.
“We just haven’t been aggressive attacking hitters,” Hayes said. “I feel like we’re walking too many guys. We’re pitching with guys on base. On the flip side, we’re not really putting together good at-bats. We’re not getting enough from the leadoff guys.
“It’s all that and a little bit of bad luck mixed in there as well.”
The Pirates have lost nine consecutive games and suffered three consecutive sweeps, two of which have been the Cubs' doing, following Wednesday afternoon’s 8-3 loss at PNC Park. Before this skid, the Bucs led the National League Central.
With a four-game series in Miami on the horizon this weekend, Pittsburgh resides in fourth place and five games back of the division lead. This is, without question, the Pirates’ worst funk of the year -- a funk they believe they can escape.
“We have a way better team than this last week-and-a-half has gone,” said starter Rich Hill, who allowed five runs (three earned) across 5 2/3 innings in Wednesday’s finale. “We know that, but we have to continue to keep working.”
As Hayes diagnosed, the Pirates are struggling in all facets of the game.
Over its past nine games, the offense has scored 20 runs; been shut out three times; is hitting .163 overall and .078 with runners in scoring position, specifically.
“I just feel like we haven’t been able to get guys on, and when we have gotten guys on, we haven’t been able to get that single or take that walk, keep the line moving, make it harder for them type of deal,” Hayes said.
“When you’re playing Major League pitchers, good pitchers, you have to be able to cash in here and there. We haven’t really been able to do it. As a whole, we haven’t done a great job collectively to wear down the starters in my opinion.
The pitching staff, collectively, hasn’t fared much better. Pittsburgh’s starters have a 4.89 ERA across their past 46 innings -- Johan Oviedo and rookie Osvaldo Bido account for the only two quality starts during this skid -- but the real concern lies in the bullpen.
Across its past 29 innings, the relief corps allowed 31 earned runs (9.62 ERA) with 31 strikeouts (9.62 K/9) to 22 walks (6.83 BB/9). Dauri Moreta has been lights out for most of this season, but the right-hander has allowed five earned runs in his past two appearances.
Yohan Ramirez, also excellent for much of this season, was optioned to Triple-A Indianapolis after surrendering five earned runs and walking four batters across 2 1/3 innings in his last three appearances.
Along with the losses, the injuries have hit the Pirates in a flurry.
Vince Velasquez, JT Brubaker and Mike Burrows are out for the season. Oneil Cruz, who is resuming light throwing, is out until August. Ji Man Choi has played just nine games, though he should begin a rehab assignment soon.
The last week has been especially brutal.
Right-hander Colin Holderman (right wrist inflammation), as well as left-handers Jose Hernandez (right calf strain) and Rob Zastryzny (left forearm inflammation) have hit the injured list. Bryan Reynolds (low back soreness) and Andrew McCutchen (right elbow inflammation) aren’t on the IL, but they’ve both missed the Pirates’ past two games due to their respective ailments.
“No excuses there because we have guys that need to step in those roles and fill them,” manager Derek Shelton said. “Every team’s dealing with injuries. We’re testing our depth right now.”
Hill, the oldest active player in Major League Baseball, has endured his share of rough stretches. To the 19-year veteran, the solution is simple enough.
“Work. That’s it,” Hill said. “Has that ever changed? That’s really the key identity to winning cultures and winning clubs, that they show up every single day. Failure is necessary in order to show everyone that the work is important. That’s really the key ingredient and to continue to keep pulling for each other.
“We pull for each other, we play with that intensity and play with that aggressiveness, we’re going to be in good position.”