The Arizona Diamondbacks took their second consecutive series from the Pittsburgh Pirates following a 6-5 victory Sunday at PNC Park. The Pirates blew a 4-0 lead in the game, a game started by star rookie Paul Skenes.
Skenes allowed two earned runs on five hits while pitching into the sixth inning, but the Pirates bullpen failed to hold the lead. Colin Holderman took the loss, allowing a three-run home run to Joc Pederson in the seventh inning.
Holderman’s trend of allowing home runs continued in the game. After allowing just one home run over the first two months of the season, he now has allowed four in his last 3-1/3rd innings. Holderman has also allowed 12 earned runs in his last 15 appearances out of the bullpen.
It was another feast of famine game for shortstop Oneil Cruz. He went 5-for-7 in the first two games of the series, but struck out three times in his five at-bats.
The Pirates defeated the Diamondbacks 4-2 Saturday in a game delayed by rain. Mitch Keller had allowed just one hit over four innings before the delay. Arizona won Friday’s game 9-8. The Pirates came back from a 5-0 first inning deficit in that game.
The Bucs are off today, then begin a three-game series with the San Diego Padres Tuesday night. They will face the Padres in six of their next nine games. San Diego is tied with Atlanta for the top National League Wild Card. They are a half-game ahead of Arizona.
Currently, the Pirates 56-55 overall. They are six games behind the Milwaukee Brewers in the N.L. Central and are now 3-1/2 back in chase for the final National League Wild Card.