The Pittsburgh Pirates haven’t scored more than four runs in two dozen games, a streak that has magnified every mistake and minimized the effectiveness of their starting pitching.

Mitch Keller became the latest Pirate to provide a quality start and receive little support offensively or defensively, which has become a recurring theme for the veteran right-hander this season.

The Cincinnati Reds took advantage of a pair of fielding mishaps to score the go-ahead run in the sixth inning on their way to a 7-1 win over the Pirates on Monday night before 10,842 at PNC Park.

“It’s something these guys feel,” Pirates manager Don Kelly said. “I go back to that mentality of, yes, we need to play good baseball while going out there to play aggressively and not go out there defensively not to make mistakes. That goes for the pitching, hitting, defense and baserunning, as well. How do we go out and play the game the right way? Play aggressively. Offensively, do the things that we need to do. Attack when we need to attack when the ball’s in the middle of the plate. We’re not going out there to not strike out.”

It was the fourth consecutive loss for the last-place Pirates (15-33), this one to open a seven-game homestand against NL Central rivals in Cincinnati (25-24) and the Milwaukee Brewers.

Keller (1-6) threw 59 of his 91 pitches for strikes in delivering his seventh quality start, allowing two runs (one earned) on six hits and one walk with five strikeouts in six innings. The Pirates have scored a total of 12 runs in his seven quality starts this season.

“Obviously, we know we are struggling,” Keller said. “We’ve just got to keep us in the game because you never know when we are going to pop. That’s our mentality, just keep us in the game and eventually we are going to pop off here.”

Reds lefty Nick Lodolo (4-4) was even better, striking out seven while allowing one run on four hits and one walk while throwing 60 of his 89 pitches for strikes over six innings.

Keller’s command was spotty in the first inning, when the Reds took a 1-0 lead after Elly De La Cruz drew a two-out walk and scored on a double to left by Austin Hays, beating Isiah Kiner-Falefa’s off-target relay throw to home plate.

The Pirates scored in similar fashion in the bottom of the first. Bryan Reynolds hit a two-out dribbler down the first-base line, then scored from first on Joey Bart’s 400-foot double off the center-field wall to tie the score at 1-1.

Alexander Canario hit a book-rule double to lead off the fourth, and Kiner-Falefa was hit by a pitch but Lodolo struck out Jared Triolo to end any scoring threat.

The Reds took the lead in the sixth after a pair of fielding mishaps. With two outs, Austin Hays hit a sharp grounder up the middle. Kiner-Falefa fielded the ball and spun, but his throw sailed over the outstretched glove of first baseman Nick Solak for an error that allowed Hays to reach second base.

Kelly said he prefers the Pirates play with an aggressive mindset, even at the risk of making mistakes.

“I want these guys to make plays. If we’re going out there to play defense to not make mistakes, we’re not in the frame of mind to be playing baseball,” Kelly said. “That’s the challenge. Being in charge of the infield prior to this, that’s what I want the guys to do. There’s a lot of times with our infielders, some guys might not even get to that ball, on other teams. (He’s) got so much range that he gets there, he’s trying to make a play to win the game, and I think the same thing: If you ask him, he expects himself to make a good throw on that play.”

But the error was compounded when Gavin Lux followed with a double on a low line drive to left that popped out of a sliding Tommy Pham’s glove to drive in Hays and give the Reds a 2-1 advantage. It was only the second start in seven games for Pham, as the Pirates have given Canario more playing time in left field.

“It’s a hard game to play, especially when you’re not out there every day,” Kelly said of Pham. “Probably, if you asked Tommy, he expects himself to make that play. A lot more difficult than it looks from a lefty tailing away towards the line. Tough play to make there.”

It soon became a blowout.

The Reds stretched their lead against David Bednar in the eighth. De La Cruz drilled a double off the left-field wall to drive in TJ Friedl, then scored on a single to center by Hays to make it 4-1.

They padded it in the ninth by scoring three runs off Colin Holderman. Will Benson hit a leadoff double, advanced to third on a passed ball by Bart and scored on a sacrifice fly by Matt McLain. Tyler Stephenson drew a walk, advanced to second on a wild pitch and scored on Friedl’s single to right. De La Cruz doubled to right to drive in Friedl.

Once again, the Pirates were searching for answers on how to snap out of their funk.

“I honestly don’t know the exact answer for you. I’m not just going to make up an answer to have one,” Keller said. “I think just the quality of work pregame. Intention during the game. We’ve just got to bring a will to win.”

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