PITTSBURGH -- Spencer Strider may have statistically had a worse start. But the Braves' strikeout master certainly hasn’t had an inning as ugly as he endured in a 7-6 loss to the Pirates on Monday night at PNC Park.  

“I think it is inevitable to have bad games,” Strider said. “But this was a [new] level of bad that can happen.”

Strider retired six of the first seven batters he faced and then recorded just two more outs before exiting during Pittsburgh’s decisive six-run third inning. The Braves tallied four runs in the fourth, but their potent offense remained silent after a one hour, 18-minute rain delay halted play before the start of the sixth inning.

Braves manager Brian Snitker and All-Star catcher Sean Murphy were among those who said this was just one of those nights even the best pitchers are bound to encounter. 

But those who know the highly competitive Strider won’t be surprised to learn he didn’t subscribe to this same theory. 

“You need to learn from it,” Strider said. “If you try to justify it by saying it’s just one of those games, then I think you can rob yourself of the opportunity to do that. Ideally, I don’t want to have any of these games. To do that, you’ve got to learn from it.”

This hasn’t been a good road trip thus far for the Braves, who have lost three straight since tallying one big inning during Max Fried’s successful return from the injured list on Friday. Fried’s win in Chicago was supposed to be the start of something good for Atlanta’s rotation.  

But Bryce Elder allowed seven runs for the third time in five starts on Saturday and Charlie Morton allowed four-plus runs for the third time in his past four starts on Sunday. 

Thoughts of Strider stopping the bleeding faded as he allowed six runs and five hits over just 2 2/3 innings to the Pirates, tallying three strikeouts and issuing three walks. 

After throwing 24 pitches through the first two innings, he needed 39 pitches to record just two outs in the third. Strider walked three of the final five batters he faced. He entered the outing having issued six walks over his past six starts. 

Strider’s 2 2/3 innings tied his shortest career regular-season start -- he also went 2 2/3 frames against the Mets exactly one year prior to Monday’s affair on Aug. 7, 2022.

The six runs allowed to Pittsburgh matched the second-highest total Strider has ever surrendered in a start. He allowed six runs (all earned) over 3 2/3 innings against the Giants on June 21, 2022. He gave up eight runs (all earned) over four innings against the Mets earlier this season on June 8.  

Monday marked the first time in 43 career starts Strider didn’t tally at least four strikeouts.  

“It wasn’t like they were rocketing balls all over the place against him,” Snitker said. “He just couldn’t put them away.”

So how did the inning fall apart? 

Liover Peguero began the third with an excuse-me opposite-field double that stayed fair down the right-field line. Strider responded by getting two groundouts, including one Orlando Arcia bobbled, forcing him to throw to first base instead of the plate to get Peguero.  

Andrew McCutchen followed by roping a two-strike slider that stayed up for a double and Henry Davis showed his hitting skills by lacing a sharp ground-ball single against a 97.4 mph fastball that was just off the plate. 

Bad luck could be blamed up to this point. But Strider had only himself to blame when he issued consecutive walks to Jack Suwinski and Endy Rodríguez. He missed with three changeups during his seven-pitch walk to Suwinski. He didn’t come close with any of the fastballs or sliders he offered in his four-pitch walk to Rodríguez.   

“I didn't attack guys the way I wanted to and they were on the fastball,” Strider said. “It felt like a little bit of a concession to try to blow fastballs by them, when that's what they're looking for. But I’ve got to be able to execute offspeed, if that's the case. Or, we just have to accept the result and go right back at  guys. I didn't do either, and consequently, we lost the game.”

Strider has continued to produce strikeouts at a record pace, but his sophomore season hasn’t been as smooth as he had hoped. He has allowed four runs or more in three of his five starts since the All-Star break. He surrendered that total in just four of the 20 starts he made during last year’s rookie season.  

“I think I've had a lot of bad starts,” Strider said. “I've had some good starts turn into bad starts. Right now, when I sit back and look at the way I’ve pitched this year, it's frustrating.”