If it felt like the Pittsburgh Pirates were only 90 feet away from a series sweep at the San Diego Padres, that’s because they left a runner on third base without scoring in three different innings.

Not since the 1980 Texas Rangers had an MLB team failed on four separate occasions to score after getting two runners on with no outs in one game. Pirates manager Don Kelly didn’t attempt to disguise his frustration with the lack of situational hitting.

“We’ve got to be better,” Kelly said on the SportsNet Pittsburgh postgame show, “and find a way to get guys in.”

This wasn’t a new phenomenon for the Pirates, who were 2 for 30 with runners in scoring position in the three games. That includes going 1 for 15 with 13 runners left on base Monday, a statistic that was glossed over when they rallied for a 3-2 win on a Nick Gonzales single that scored automatic runner Jared Triolo in the 12th inning.

Until then, the Pirates had an 0-for-13 RISP. They had runners at second and third in the third inning, when Spencer Horwitz and Triolo opened with singles, only for Gonzales to fly out, Esmerlyn Valdez to strike out and Bryan Reynolds to pop up. They left a runner at second with one out in the sixth, when Brandon Lowe and Jacob Gonzalez struck out. And they had runners at first and third with two outs in the ninth, when Padres second baseman Jake Cronenworth made a spectacular stop. They had a chance in the 10th with Jake Mangum at third, only for Reynolds to strike out and Oneil Cruz to tap one back to the pitcher for a rundown before Lowe grounded out to short.

Lowe went 0 for 11 with eight strikeouts and two walks and left four runners in scoring position with two outs in the series, including a strikeout with the bases loaded to end the seventh Wednesday.

“Sure, there’s excuses out there. Plain and simple, we just didn’t do it,” Lowe said. “We didn’t get the job done. We had opportunities to do it and just didn’t do it.”

1. RISP rank: For as poorly as the Pirates have performed with runners in scoring position — they were 6 for 24 in the Dodgers series and 8 for 54 so far on this road trip — their numbers are more middle of the pack this season.

With runners on second and third, the Pirates rank 11th in MLB with a .319/.390/.504 slash line.

With a runner on third, they rank 19th with a .279/.389/.404 slash line.

But with runners in scoring position and two outs, the Pirates are 26th with a .221/.325/.363 slash line.

Kelly was asked if Pirates players are feeling the pressure in such situations.

“I’m sure they are, at times. Everyone feels it,” Kelly said. “As a player, when you’re going up there and, one after another, guys aren’t getting the job done, you do feel it because guys want to get it done. How do we stay in that approach and stay simple and have confidence and the belief in ourselves to go up there and get it done?”

2. Dry spell: For an offense that transformed itself from baseball’s worst to one of its best almost overnight, the Pirates have felt the sting of losing some of their most dynamic hitters to injuries.

Both Cruz and Konnor Griffin have spent two months on the injured list, while the Pirates also have endured stretches without Horwitz and Ryan O’Hearn.

It’s no wonder that, over the past 30 days, the Pirates rank in the bottom third of baseball in most major offensive categories.

They are tied for 21st in doubles (36), tied for 26th in home runs (23), tied for 24th in runs scored (101), rank 25th in RBIs (94) and are 25th or lower in batting average (.221), on-base percentage (.298), slugging percentage (.337) and OPS (.635).

The Pirates have scored 11 runs in six games on the road trip, getting shut out twice. Their 15 shutout losses this season lead the majors, which is amazing given how good their offense had been.

3. For starters: That puts more pressure on the starting pitching to carry the Pirates, at least until rookie shortstop Konnor Griffin is eligible to return from the 60-day injured list Sept. 4.

The Pirates are scheduled to start Jared Jones (2-5, 4.76 ERA) against Cardinals left-hander Quinn Matthews (0-2, 6.43 ERA) on Friday and Braxton Ashcraft (13-5, 3.59 ERA) against lefty Matthew Liberatore (5-12, 5.44 ERA) on Sunday.

The Saturday starter remains to be determined, although it could be a bullpen game that features Carmen Mlodzinski in either a starting or bulk relief role.

The Pirates got quality starts from Ashcraft and Paul Skenes against the Padres, while Bubba Chandler fell one out shy of qualifying for one. The trio combined to allow three runs (two earned) on 11 hits and three walks with nine strikeouts.

“They did a great job this series,” Kelly said of his starters. “We do need them big-time. We need everybody: Starting pitching, offense, baserunning, defense. We need to play better baseball and find a way to get it done. Starting pitching is a big part of that, and we have an opportunity in St. Louis to do that.”

4. Losing Endy: It seemed not so long ago that the Pirates had a surplus of catchers. Then they traded Joey Bart to the Atlanta Braves and Omar Alfonzo to the New York Yankees and designated Shawn Ross for assignment.

Losing Endy Rodriguez, whose bat had earned him the starting job, to season-ending surgery to repair the labrum in his left hip is a big blow. The switch-hitting Rodriguez batted .267/.373/.467 with six doubles, seven home runs and 20 RBIs in 45 games for the Pirates.

“It’s tough,” Chandler said. “Whether you lose a player or coach or whatever, it’s family. You spend pretty much every second of the day with them for seven months out of the year. Losing him in the clubhouse sucks. Losing him on the field is even worse. He’ll get healthy, come back and be good.”

This marks the third consecutive season Rodriguez has had a season either wiped out entirely or ended by injury. He missed 2024 after undergoing Tommy John surgery and most of last season with right elbow inflammation.

Rodriguez posted the following on his Instagram page, in both English and Spanish: “I am wrapping up a season full of challenges, lessons and moments I will always carry with me. Thank you to everyone who was part of this journey. I close this chapter with gratitude and look forward to the next one with excitement.”

5. Seeking a streak: The Pirates (65-70) are 7½ games behind the Padres (72-62) for the final National League wild-card spot, trailing Arizona by 6½ games, Miami by 3½ and St. Louis by 1½.

The Pirates are visiting St. Louis at the perfect time, considering the Cardinals have lost their last five games and have a better record away (34-32) than at Busch Stadium (32-36).

But, as general manager Ben Cherington noted Sunday during a guest appearance on radio flagship 93.7 The Fan, the Pirates are due for a winning streak. They haven’t had one longer than five games this season, and that one was in the first two weeks of the season (two at Cincinnati on March 31 and April 1 and three against Baltimore from April 3-5).

Sweeping the Cardinals would be a good start, but that might require the Pirates to drive in runners in scoring position.