There was hope that a new setting and a pitcher rejoining the starting rotation might spark the Pirates.
It didn’t work out.
With Carmen Mlodzinski starting and the Pirates opening a three-game series against the Mets, the right-hander didn’t have his best stuff and the offense produced too little too late during a 6-4 loss Friday at PNC Park, the fourth in a row for Don Kelly’s club.
Mlodzinski had worked in long relief, specifically as a high-leverage bulk guy, until Mitch Keller’s season-ending injury created a needed. The pathway for a rotation return and team-wide boost was perfect.
However, the suddenly resurgent Mets ran up Mlodzinski’s pitch count, and a three-run homer from second baseman Marcus Semien in a four-run third loomed large. Mlodzinski worked three innings and allowed five earned runs on seven hits and a walk.
“Yeah, not ideal,” Mlodzinski said. “Definitely not my best baseball [Friday]. I gotta take accountability for it. I definitely needed to step up, we needed to win, and I wasn't able to do it. So, we'll turn the page, move forward and try to play our best baseball in the next few months.”
Yohan Ramirez spearheaded a terrific effort from the Pirates bullpen, pitching 3 1/3 innings of scoreless ball (with four strikeouts), but it ultimately didn’t matter, the same for the Pirates scoring four runs over the final three innings.
They struggled against lefty starter Zac Thornton, falling to 10-25 when facing southpaws this season, the second-fewest such wins in MLB.
“We have to find a way to be better,” Pirates manager Don Kelly said.
On the bases, specifically. The Pirates made three baserunning outs, two in the later innings that proved costly.
After Spencer Horwitz was doubled off in the second, Jared Triolo was thrown out trying to score on a ball that squirted away from catcher Luis Torrens. The Pirates challenged, though it was correctly ruled that left-hander Jeffrey Yan tagged Triolo.
In the ninth, pinch-hitter Jacob Gonzalez drove a ball to the right-field corner. But, he was thrown out while trying to stretch it into a double.
“From a baserunning perspective, thought we were maybe a little bit too aggressive there,” Kelly said. “We have to make sure and let the scoreboard dictate some of the chances we have to take.
Triolo cut the Mets’ lead to 6-1 with his single in the seventh, and Jake Mangum added a sacrifice fly. In the ninth, Gonzalez and Brandon Lowe each drove in runs with singles before Bryan Reynolds bounced out to second to end it.
The loss dropped the Pirates to 57-61 on the season, as they’re now 7-14 since the All-Star break. Their offense has averaged just 3.6 runs per game, while their starters have an ERA of 5.36 during that time.
Left fielder Carson Benge gave the Mets a 2-0 lead in the third with his second run-scoring single. Prior to that hit, play was halted for 36 minutes due to rain. Mlodzinski did his best to stay warm, but he wasn’t as exactly with his control as he needed to be.
Benge hit a middle-middle cutter in his second at-bat. Semien delivered the big hit when he got a 1-2 four-seamer middle-in, cranking it out to left-center for a three-run homer and a 5-0 Mets lead.
“It's obviously a long wait between innings, but their pitcher had to do it,” Mlodzinski said. “Those guys had to go hit. Last time I checked hitting in the big leagues is definitely harder than pitching. They still had to go out and play, so there's definitely no excuse.”
The outing was certainly not what Mlodzinski hoped for in his return to the starting rotation. In his first 11 starts of 2026, Mlodzinski had a 3.76 ERA. Mlodzinski said they’re taking his return day-by-day, but he also knows he needs to pitch better than he did Friday.
One bright spot was Ramirez, who now has a 0.30 ERA since June 6. That’s the best in baseball among pitchers who’ve logged at least 20 innings during that time, while he’s allowing a .160 batting average against during that time.
This was the longest outing of the season for Ramirez and continued to show his value to the Pirates.
“It feels great to help the team and compete to keep our team in a good spot,” Ramirez said, with Major League coach Stephen Morales translating. “I’m always happy doing my job, controlling what I can control. I just go out there and do my best and not worry about the outcomes. I’m always the same guy out there.”
Cruz starts rehab
Oneil Cruz went 0 for 1 with a pair of walks with Triple-A Indianapolis on Friday. He played seven innings in center field. Expect Cruz to return around the later part of next week, assuming everything goes according to plan.
Jason Mackey: Jason.Mackey@pirates.com and @JMackey_PGH on X.