Bucs mount another rally, but spark doesn't materialize

MIAMI -- The Pirates appeared to have a chance for a second straight comeback win on Saturday afternoon.

Instead, after Pittsburgh clawed its way back in the late innings, the lack of an early lead against a potent Miami squad led to a 4-3 loss on an 11th-inning walk-off hit at loanDepot park.

Pittsburgh’s 11th loss in its past 12 games highlighted something the club has been working to rectify: getting ahead early. In their past five games, the Pirates have been outscored, 9-3, through the first four innings. Only one of those five games ended with a Bucs victory -- Friday’s 3-1 win over the Marlins, which was only possible because of a three-run top of the ninth inning.

So when the Pirates were hitless through five innings on Saturday, their four baserunners coming either via walks (two from Andrew McCutchen) or fielder’s choices, it wasn’t necessarily a surprise.

Nor was it a surprise when the Bucs heated up late.

"It's definitely frustrating,” Pirates manager Derek Shelton said. “We've got to figure out a way the first couple of times through the order to attack starters.

"I don't think it's prep. It's not like we're not preparing. It's not like we're not working. But we have to do a better job off starters. We've faced good starting pitching, but we have got to create more opportunities."

Here are three key plays that could have been major catalysts for the Pirates’ momentum, but instead fell by the wayside.

The catch that wasn’t
With the game scoreless through four innings, Josh Palacios made what would be a highlight reel-worthy catch to kick off the bottom of the fifth inning. Or he almost did. The left fielder dove to get his glove under a leadoff liner from Jon Berti. He did that successfully, but then, as Palacios slid over top of his glove, the momentum and friction caused his glove to come off his hand.

Initially ruled a hit, the Pirates challenged, but the call on the field was upheld. Two pitches later, Luis Arraez -- who leads the Majors in batting average (.401) -- hit a two-run homer to right field, and the Marlins got on the board first.

"You have to maintain the glove,” Shelton said. “[It’s] some sort of glove disengagement rule that when the glove comes off then the ball's considered not secured."

Finally, a hit
After walking in his first two plate appearances, McCutchen cranked a one-out ground-rule double just inside the right-field line, ending Miami’s no-hit bid in the sixth inning with his 400th career double.

But rather than ignite a hit parade and give Pittsburgh a chance to even the score, pinch-hitter Connor Joe struck out in the next at-bat. Ke’Bryan Hayes lined out two batters later to end the inning. In total, the Pirates went 2-for-17 with runners in scoring position and stranded 11 runners.

"It's been quite the whirlwind when it comes to strategy and facing these starters,” McCutchen said. “But as an offense, all you can do is just try to stick to your game plan and chip away and try not to do too much. I don't feel like any guys out there are trying to do too much. I think they're staying within themselves, and it's just luck of the draw right now with how the offense has been early, especially.”

A walk and a sprint
In just his second Major League start Nick Gonzales reminded the world why he was a first-round pick in the 2020 MLB Draft. Facing a Miami bullpen that entered the week with a sub-4.00 ERA, Gonzales worked a two-out walk in the ninth inning after falling behind 1-2.

Then, Gonzales showed off his speed, getting from first to home in 10.3 seconds on a double from Jason Delay to tie the game. His sprint speed registered at 28.7 ft./sec., just a hair under the 30 ft./sec. “elite” threshold.

"It's part of the reason he was drafted in the first round,” McCutchen said. “That's what he does -- work the count, good swings on good pitches, and that's what you have to do here. He had a good at-bat there, gave us a chance and we got the chance, got the big hit to tie it up.

“It’s only Game 2 for him, so we just need to do our best as a whole to help ease the tension on him. That's what we do -- that's what you have to do as a whole -- just keep grinding away and go from there."