The Pirates got the last of their missing regulars back today, but they also got a reminder that this wasn’t a good offensive team to begin with. They missed a chance at a four-game sweep and lost to Miami, 3-1.
Colin Moran was back in the cleanup spot and contributed right away. His two-out double in the first drove in Adam Frazier to put the Pirates up, 1-0.
But that was the end of the offense. Marlins starter Sandy Alcantara coasted through the next seven innings, allowing just six hits total. The Pirates wasted leadoff doubles in the fifth and eighth, but otherwise couldn’t get a runner past first. Closer Yimi Garcia set them down in order in the ninth.
Ke’Bryan Hayes was the only Pirate with two hits. Frazier hit his major-league-leading 20th double.
Chad Kuhl had an encouraging start. It would have been a great start if not for Jesus Aguilar. Kuhl allowed only three hits, the first being a home run by Aguilar in the second that tied the game.
The rest of the scoring happened in the sixth. The first two batters reached, then Corey Dickerson bounced to Frazier. He threw to second, but Erik Gonzalez, who absolutely, positively has to be in the lineup every single game, dropped the throw. That let one run in and a fly ball by Aguilar made it 3-1.
Kuhl finished the sixth, then a couple of not-real-familiar faces finished up. Austin Davis, just activated from an IL stint, zipped through the seventh on seven pitches. Luis Oviedo followed with two scoreless innings, getting some help from a double play but fanning four.
