Pirates continue to struggle with strikeouts, scoring runs in loss to Red Sox

The Pittsburgh Pirates addressed a troubling trend by increasing their hit total but had little answer for their most disturbing dilemma: They are struggling to stop striking out and score runs.

The Boston Red Sox scored two runs in the first inning, and Masataka Yoshida provided the difference with a two-run homer in the sixth for a 4-2 win Saturday night before 26,025 at PNC Park.

It was the fifth consecutive loss and eighth in the past 10 games for the Pirates (11-10). They have scored eight runs over the course of the losing streak, including three consecutive games with one run.

“You’ve just got to score,” said Pirates outfielder Reynolds, who went 3 for 4 to account for a third of their nine hits. “Sometimes you go through little ruts. We’re in a rut right now. It’s still April 20. We’ve got time to make adjustments in the box, so we’re going to make adjustments.”

The Pirates went 1 for 7 with runners in scoring position, and their inability to capitalize on scoring situations has been a source of frustration. It showed in the fourth inning, when first baseman Rowdy Tellez popped up to the catcher in foul territory with runners on first and second, then broke his bat by slamming it into the ground.

“Right now, we’re in that stretch where even when we create opportunities we’re not cashing in on them,” Pirates manager Derek Shelton said. “I didn’t think our approach was bad often today. It’s just when we had some crucial at-bats, in those situations we didn’t really execute our plan.”

The Red Sox (12-10) recorded 10 strikeouts, marking the fourth time in the past five games the Pirates have had double-digit strikeouts. They struck out with at least one runner on base to end four of the first six innings against Kutter Crawford (1-0), who allowed seven hits and three walks while striking out six in six innings.

Mitch Keller (2-2) took the loss after allowing four runs on five hits and a season-high four walks with four strikeouts in six innings.

Keller dealt with some bad luck in the first inning as the Red Sox took a 2-0 lead.

Jarren Duran hit Keller’s fourth pitch 392 feet off the Clemente Wall for a leadoff triple then scored as third baseman Ke’Bryan Hayes let Wilyer Abreu’s dribbler roll down the line before it bounced off the bag. Triston Casas walked, Yoshida singled to load the bases and Rob Refsnyder scored when Bobby Dalbec grounded into a forceout.

The Pirates cut their deficit in half in the fourth inning with their lone run against Crawford when Hayes doubled to the right-field corner then scored on Jared Triolo’s single to left field to make it 2-1. With runners on first and third, however, Oneil Cruz went down swinging. Cruz, who struck out twice, leads the majors with 36 strikeouts.

In the fifth, the Pirates loaded the bases on singles by Michael A. Taylor and Reynolds and a Hayes walk only for Crawford to get Jack Suwinski swinging at a slider and Joey Bart at a cutter to strand all three runners.

“We had the opportunity when it was 2-1 to either tie the game or take the lead,” Shelton said. “In those situations, we just have to have better at-bats.”

The Red Sox wasted no time making the Pirates pay. After walking Pablo Reyes on a full-count fastball that was low and outside, Keller threw the one pitch he came to regret.

“The only walk I was bummed about was the last one in the sixth inning,” Keller said. “Can’t walk him there. And if we’re gonna walk him, the next one’s gotta be executed better.”

Instead, Keller left a first-pitch sinker to Yoshida over the middle of the plate. The Red Sox designated hitter sent it 395 feet to right-center for a two-run homer and a 4-1 lead, that proved to be the difference.

When the Red Sox turned to left-handed reliever Joely Rodriguez, the Pirates pinch-hit for lefty Suwinski with righty Connor Joe to lead off the eighth inning. He drove a 1-1 changeup 373 feet to left field for his second home run, a solo shot that made it 4-2.

“Two-run homer really hurt us,” Keller said, “because if it’s 2-1 and Connor hits a homer then it’s tied.”

After two quick outs to start the ninth, Colin Holderman walked Abreu and gave up a double to Refsnyder to put a pair of Red Sox runners in scoring position before getting Reyes looking at a called third strike on a full-count sweeper.

Kenley Jansen got Cruz looking at a full-count cutter to start the bottom of the ninth. Taylor received an automatic strike three when he was called for not being set at the eight-second mark of the pitch clock, a call for which Shelton argued and was ejected. Jansen got Olivares to go down swinging for his fifth save.

“I think we ran into some decent pitching,” Tellez said. “We’ve had some guys have some good outings. I think just putting together good at-bats, consistent at-bats is really all you can do. We’ve certainly done it early. But I don’t think there’s anything too much to press about. I think a lot of guys are just not finding their groove right now. I think we’re going to be good in the long run. … I think we’ll get there.”