Jack Suwinski sprinted after a shallow fly off the bat of former Pirate Carlos Santana in the first inning on Tuesday, diving and securing the ball as he tumbled to the turf.
It was a terrific play from the Pirates center fielder. And also very much a mirage on this night.
What it looked like early was not at all how it finished, as the Pirates suffered a 7-3 loss against the Brewers at PNC Park, the most noticeable vanishment being Andre Jackson's bifurcated start.
After three perfect frames, Jackson walked the bases loaded in the fourth, gave up a run and couldn't make it out of the fifth.
Meanwhile, several plays Pirates outfielders tried to make following Suwinski’s catch turned into unwanted adventures, permitting the Brewers to cruise to an easy win.
"I was pretty synched up the first three innings," Jackson said. "Got into the fourth, got out of sync a little bit, and I wasn’t able to get back in there."
The lopsided loss — rare considering the Pirates (64-75) had won six of seven and 23 of 43 prior to Tuesday — sets up a series-deciding matinee Wednesday.
The defeat bucked a trend of some pretty decent ball played by Pittsburgh.
Over the past seven, Pirates pitchers touted a 2.29 ERA while also recording a .163 batting average against. The offense averaged 4.9 runs per game, while the defense made just three errors
In the first three innings, Jackson threw 35 pitches, 26 strikes and allowed just two balls to leave the infield. Then, poof: three straight walks. The Brewers grabbed a 1-0 lead when designated hitter Mark Canha hit into a double play.
"It came down to the execution of the fastball," Pirates manager Derek Shelton said.
As far as the outfield stuff, third baseman Andruw Monasterio cranked an elevated changeup to the North Side Notch for a run-scoring triple and 2-0 Milwaukee lead in the fifth.
Josh Palacios played it poorly off the wall, the ball bouncing past the Pirates left fielder.
Some bad luck cost the Pirates when Milwaukee second baseman Bryce Turang’s slow roller stayed fair. A sacrifice fly from Brewers left fielder Christian Yelich upped the advantage to 4-0.
The inverse of Suwinski’s diving grab in the first came in the fifth — also with Santana batting — and Jackson having just exited following another walk.
Santana skied a sinker up from Thomas Hatch to the warning track. Suwinski lost sight of it and braced himself, the ball falling for a run-scoring double.
Milwaukee extended its lead to 7-0 later in the frame when Canha lined a two-strike changeup into left, and Palacios bobbled the ball. He was charged with an error, as a pair of runs came around to score.
"We lost the ball in the lights, and sometimes that happens," Shelton said. “Overall, we have to stay away from the walks."
ON THE MOUND
The outing was atypical for Jackson, who had been mostly solid for the Pirates (2.92 ERA in six games). Jackson lasted just 4 1/3 innings, allowing six earned runs on three hits with five walks and two strikeouts.
"I think it was getting behind hitters, then when I was in the zone, it was up," said Jackson, who had walked seven and struck out 27 over his first 24 2/3 innings with the Pirates.
Hunter Stratton made his MLB debut in the eighth and loaded the bases with two outs before striking out Tyrone Taylor swinging on a third consecutive cutter, this one low and away and outside of the strike zone.
Stratton also authored a 1-2-3 ninth to give the Pirates important length out of the bullpen.
"What a blessing. Words can’t describe it," an emotion Stratton said. "It’s a dream come true.”
The reliever then choked back tears when explaining that he would give the game ball to his dad, John.
"I started when I was 4 years old," Stratton said. "We played catch every day, no matter how tired he was.
"You think about this forever. You dream of it. Now, it’s true.”
AT THE PLATE
Until Connor Joe clobbered a three-run homer in the ninth, this was nothing like what the Pirates have been doing recently. Believe it or not, they began Tuesday’s game with 72 extra-base hits since Aug. 13, which was fifth-most in MLB.
Pittsburgh struggled against Brewers starter Brandon Woodruff, who delivered seven shutout innings, allowing just two hits and two walks and striking out six.
Woodruff, who missed a bunch of time this season with a shoulder injury, did most of his damage with his four-seamer and sinker. The Pirates swung and missed nine times, and they hit just five balls that went 95 mph or more.
In the ninth, Joe crushed an elevated heater for a three-run shot. Liover Peguero and Josh Palacios supplied two-out singles before Miguel Andujar grounded out to short to end it.
QUOTABLE
"It's incredible the support I’ve had along the way. So many people had a hand in getting me here, and I can’t thank them enough." — Stratton
UP NEXT
Colin Selby will start Wednesday, and the Pirates will have to beat Freddy Peralta, the National League Pitcher of the Month for August. Peralta went 5-0 with a 2.10 ERA in his five starts, walking 10 and striking out 46 in 30 innings.
Jason Mackey: jmackey@post-gazette.com and Twitter @JMackeyPG.
First Published: September 6, 2023, 1:26 a.m.
Updated: September 6, 2023, 1:11 p.m.
