Defensive lapse, walks cost Pirates in shutout loss to Arizona

Colin Beazley, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette on May 6, 2026

Published in Baseball

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PHOENIX — As Don Kelly watched Tuesday night’s game from a suite, he saw the script that has plagued this Pirates team at times this season.

He saw struggles with command — too many free passes from Bubba Chandler and Yohan Ramirez. He saw offensive struggles against a veteran lefty. And he saw yet another defensive mishap, a catchable fly ball that dropped between Bryan Reynolds and Oneil Cruz.

In all, Kelly watched a 9-0 Pirates loss to the Arizona Diamondbacks at Chase Field, one of those games in which a number of Pirates weaknesses came together at once. It was the Pirates’ fourth shutout loss of the season.

Kelly, suspended for a game because right-hander Chris Devenski was ruled to have intentionally thrown at Reds rookie Sal Stewart over the weekend, couldn’t do anything but watch. Bench coach Kristopher Negron managed in his stead.

Chandler allowed just two runs on two hits in five innings, but he also tied a career high (set in his first start of the season) with six walks. Those walks cost him in a 38-pitch first and ultimately cut his night short.

The first inning started well, as Chandler struck out Geraldo Perdomo on three pitches. But Ketel Marte hit Chandler’s fourth pitch for a triple, followed by a walk and an Adrian Del Castillo sacrifice fly. With two outs, it looked like he might escape with just the one run.

But Ildemaro Vargas, just named the National League Player of the Month for April, lofted a fly ball to right-center field. Oneil Cruz and Bryan Reynolds both gave chase, from center and right, but Reynolds eased up at the last moment and let it drop. The lapse ended up as an RBI double and was immediately followed by two walks before a fielder’s choice stranded the bases loaded.

That was all the cushion the Diamondbacks needed. Left-hander Eduardo Rodriguez stifled the Pirates over seven scoreless innings, keeping a no-hitter intact until Jared Triolo doubled with two outs in the fifth. In total, Rodriguez allowed just two hits and struck out seven.

It was over when …

… the Diamondbacks posted a five-run sixth. Ramirez came in to relieve Chandler and allowed two doubles, a walk and two hit batters in one-third of an inning. Perdomo’s two-run double extended the Arizona lead to 5-0, putting a close game out of reach. Arizona tacked on two more, on RBI singles from Marte and Del Castillo, against Dennis Santana in the eighth.

On the mound

The difference for Chandler was command. He threw 16 balls as part of his 38-pitch first inning, then threw just two across the next two frames, needing only 23 pitches to complete the second and third innings.

Chandler reached a two-strike count on three of his walks, including 0-2 twice. Two were four-pitch walks. The sixth came after a strike then four consecutive balls.

At the plate

The Pirates could do nothing against Rodriguez, the first lefty starter they’ve faced in nine days (the previous one was the Brewers’ Kyle Harrison, who struck out 10 Pirates in a similar result). Konnor Griffin crushed a double off of the top of the center field wall in the seventh, a blast which would have been a homer in 25 out of 30 ballparks, including PNC Park.

Jake Mangum, Joey Bart and Triolo all started and combined to go 1 for 9 with two strikeouts.

Most valuable player

Rodriguez, who dominated the Pirates.

Up next

The Pirates will look to rebound against the Diamondbacks on Wednesday night with their ace on the mound. Paul Skenes (4-2, 3.18 ERA) will face Arizona right-hander Michael Soroka (4-1, 4.70) with the first pitch scheduled for 9:40 p.m. Eastern time. The game will be televised locally on SportsNet Pittsburgh, nationally on MLB Network, and broadcast on the radio on 93.7 The Fan.