Pockets of adversity have defined the Pirates' season thus far.
Losing two of three in New York to start. Getting swept in a four-game set by the Cardinals at PNC Park in late April. Even a sour ending in San Francisco last weekend.
Each time, the Pirates responded appropriately. But they face a tougher challenge given what happened against the Phillies on the North Shore this weekend.
Sunday's 6-0 loss concluded another frustrating series sweep. The Pirates will also be without Ryan O'Hearn for the next four weeks and Joey Bart for roughly the same amount of time.
A response is required.
“It’s probably a good time for an off-day, but I think we’re in a good spot going into this next stretch," Paul Skenes said. “Not worried about how we’ll respond at all."
If there’s good news, it's that they won’t find tougher pitching than what they saw the past two games of this series.
Cristopher Sanchez and Zack Wheeler are elite, and they certainly showed every ounce of that with 16 shutout frames.
At the same time, the Pirates offense that arrived for this series ranked top-five in MLB in runs needs to quickly rediscover that form.
“We have to find a way to be better and get stuff going against those guys because that’s what playoff baseball is all about,” Pirates manager Don Kelly said.
As dominant as he's been, Skenes looked human Sunday.
The Phillies scored five runs in five-plus innings against the Pirates ace, amassing more hard contact than anyone all season.
While recording six hits (four for extra bases), Philadelphia registered nine hard-hit balls (95 mph or more) against Skenes, including five via his fastball.
For context, Skenes had allowed eight hard-hit balls in his previous two starts combined. Through his first nine starts, Skenes was giving up an average of four hard-hit balls per game.
"Just didn’t execute a few pitches," Skenes said. "They did a good job."
Meanwhile, the Pirates generated next to nothing against the ace on the other side in Wheeler. The Phillies right-hander worked seven scoreless innings, allowing just four hits while walking one and striking out seven.
This marks the first time this season the Pirates have been blanked in back-to-back games, the sixth time overall.
"He has electric stuff," Kelly said of Wheeler. "He kept it on the edges. His velocity was up (1.6 mph on his four-seamer). He mixed in the offspeed, the split-change and [cutter]. He just does a great job. The [arm] angle is so different, too."
It was actually the same score as Saturday, when the Phillies roughed up Bubba Chandler in a three-inning start. Philadelphia erased a five-run deficit after six innings to earn a comeback victory over the Pirates on Friday night.
The Phillies’ offensive push Sunday started in the fifth inning, when right fielder Adolis Garcia drew a leadoff walk. It was the first free pass issued by Skenes in 39 innings, the longest such streak for a Pirates pitcher since Bob Friend went 46 1/3 innings from May 28-June 22, 1963.
Center fielder Justin Crawford's grounder to short made it a 1-0 game. Shortstop Trea Turner upped Philadelphia's advantage to 2-0 when he went the opposite way with a fastball down the middle.
First baseman Bryce Harper – who had four hits Friday and a homer Saturday – went deep again to open the sixth, pouncing on a sinker Skenes left out over the plate.
It turned into a rout via Bryson Stott’s double off Isaac Mattson an inning later, the Phillies second baseman going down to get a four-seam fastball that was actually located decently well.
While Skenes' outing looked normal early on, the right-hander not allowing a hit until the fourth and racking up five strikeouts through three innings, it turned out to be the second-worst of Skenes’ season behind Opening Day.
Now, the Pirates fly to St. Louis Monday saddled with their second three-game losing streak of the season following a 2-4 homestand. Their overall record dropped to 24-23.
"We’ve faced adversity on different levels this year," Kelly said. "Any time you his adversity like we did after the St. Louis sweep, it’s hard. Everybody feels it. Fans feel it. Players feel it. Staff feels it. We’ve done a really good job of rebounding on a lot of different levels this year in the midst of adversity."
Lowe-ch
It looked like the Pirates might’ve had hope to open the sixth inning when Brandon Lowe cranked an inside fastball from Wheeler over the right-field fence. It would’ve been just the second home run anyone has hit off Wheeler this season.
But instead, a crew chief review ruled a fan reached over the wall to interfere with a ball in play, relegating Lowe to a double. Bryan Reynolds grounded out to first base to end the inning.
O'Hearn out four weeks
Appearing on the Pirates Insider Show on 93.7 The Fan Sunday, general manager Ben Cherington said O'Hearn would miss around four weeks with a right quad strain.
“It’s on the moderate side," Cherington said, "but it’s not going to be a 10-day thing."
It will be interesting to see what the Pirates do here. They started Jared Triolo in right field on Sunday. He's a natural infielder who’s looked out of place in right. Nick Yorke and Billy Cook, who have more recent experience in the outfield, both sat.
Jhostynxon Garcia – who had five hits and three home runs in his first game back after lower-back tightness with Triple-A Indianapolis early last week – could be an option now that regular playing time exists.
The Pirates also brought back Jake Mangum from the 10-day IL, as expected. He started in center and went 0 for 2 with a walk.
"Obviously losing a guy like [O’Hearn] is a big blow," Kelly said. "We’ve got to find a way. There’s gonna be an opportunity for other guys to step up, get meaningful at-bats and do some things offensively. Any time you lose a guy like him, it stinks. Hopefully it’s quick."
Bart out 'weeks, not days'
Another injury updated Cherington offered was on Joey Bart, who's out with a cut on his left foot that became infected.
Cherington described it as "weeks, not days" before Bart can return, meaning Endy Rodriguez will get an opportunity to prove himself behind the plate.
Jason Mackey: Jason.Mackey@pirates.com and @JMackey_PGH.