Pirates Drop Below .500 After Crushing Loss to Athletics

The Pittsburgh Pirates found themselves below the .500 mark for the first time since the early days of the season, succumbing to an 11-2 defeat against the Oakland Athletics on Monday night. The loss, which dropped the Pirates to a 36-37 record, was punctuated by strong offensive performances from the Athletics, including multiple home runs from Nick Kurtz and a significant contribution from Jeff McNeil.

A’s Take Early Control

The Athletics established an early lead in the second inning, tagging Pirates starter Jared Jones (1-1) for three runs. Nick Kurtz ignited the scoring with a two-run opposite-field home run to left field, following a run-scoring single by Jeff McNeil. Jones managed to escape a jam in the first inning but couldn’t contain the Athletics’ offense in the second.

Pirates Show Glimmers of Life

Pittsburgh managed to get on the board in the top of the fourth inning. With runners on second and third and one out, Jake Mangum delivered an RBI single to left field off Athletics pitcher J.T. Ginn (5-3), making the score 3-1. However, the A’s quickly responded.

Athletics Extend Dominance

Oakland extended their lead in the bottom of the fourth with a two-run home run to right field by Jeff McNeil, his third of the season. The Athletics added another run in the fifth inning when Zack Gelof lined a single off Carmen Mlodzinski. The most significant damage came in the seventh inning, as Lawrence Butler doubled home a run before McNeil added an RBI single. Nick Kurtz then capped off the inning with his second home run of the game, a three-run shot to left field, bringing his RBI total for the game to five.

Late Solo Shot for Pittsburgh

The Pirates’ Endy Rodríguez hit a solo home run to left-center field in the top of the eighth inning off Athletics reliever Mason Barnett. Rodríguez had a strong individual performance, finishing 3 for 3 with a home run, a walk, an RBI, and a run scored. Despite this effort, the Pirates’ deficit remained too large to overcome.

Key Performances and Streaks

Nick Kurtz was a standout for the Athletics, matching a season-high five RBI with his two home runs. Jeff McNeil, who had been in a slump, broke out with a 3 for 4 performance, including a home run, four RBI, and three runs scored. For the Pirates, Bryan Reynolds extended his hitting streak to seven games and his on-base streak to 22 games with a first-inning single.

Pitching Woes for Pittsburgh

Jared Jones pitched 4.0 innings, allowing eight hits, five runs, one walk, and striking out four. Carmen Mlodzinski followed, pitching 3.0 innings and giving up seven hits, six runs (one earned), one walk, and recording two strikeouts.

Looking Ahead

The Pirates will aim to regroup and avoid further slide as RHP Mitch Keller (5-4, 5.14 ERA) is scheduled to start for Pittsburgh on Tuesday night. The Athletics will counter with RHP Jack Perkins (2-3, 6.25 ERA).

Key facts
| Team | Score | Record |
|———————|——-|———|
| Oakland Athletics | 11 | 36-36 |
| Pittsburgh Pirates | 2 | 36-37 |

This loss is significant for the Pirates as it pushes them below the .500 mark for the first time since March 31, a period when they stood at 2-3. With eight losses in their last 10 games, the team faces a critical juncture as they look to regain momentum and climb back above .500.

Source: Yahoo Sports (https://sports.yahoo.com/articles/pirates-pummeled-athletics-drop-below-042920355.html)

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