Pittsburgh Pirates left fielder Bryan Reynolds (10) plays against the Cincinnati Reds during an opening day baseball game in Cincinnati, Thursday, March 30, 2023. (AP Photo/Jeff Dean)
The Pirates’ second-half offensive struggles continued in a 4-1 loss to the Cardinals at Busch Stadium on Friday night.
Scoring Plays
Bottom 3rd, 2-0 STL: Jimmy Crooks hit a two-run home run off Jared Jones (2-6) to give the Cardinals (68-68) a lead they would hold from start to end.
Bottom 4th, 3-0 STL: Nathan Church tacked on another run with a sacrifice fly to center.
Top 5th, 3-1 STL: The Pirates (65-71) got on the board when Jared Triolo singled home Jake Mangum off Quinn Matthews (1-2).
Top 8th, 4-1 STL: St. Louis tacked on an insurance run on a Jacob Gonzalez throwing error at shortstop. Jordan Walker scored on the play.
Key Moments
Jimmy Crooks’ two-run home run served as the backbreaker for the reeling Pirate offense.
Player of the Game
Cardinals starter Quinn Matthews earned his first-career win after holding the Pirates to one run on five hits with one walk and seven strikeouts in 5.2 innings.
Stat to Know
The Pirates have lost each of the last seven games Jared Jones has started. The last time Pittsburgh won a game started by Jones was on July 18 in the first game of a doubleheader in Cleveland. Jones is 0-5 during that time.
Notable Performances
Jared Jones: 4.2 innings, seven hits, three runs, one walk, six strikeouts, 86 pitchers/58 strikes
Jared Triolo: 2 for 3, one RBI
Oneil Cruz: 2 for 4
Noteworthy
The Pirates committed three errors in the loss.
The Pirates have combined to score 12 runs in seven games on their current road trip.
The Pirates recalled LHP Evan Sisk from Triple-A Indianapolis and optioned RHP Noah Murdock to Indianapolis.
Up Next
The Pirates have TBD listed for Saturday’s pitched. RHP Kyle Leahy (10-4, 3.13 ERA) takes the mound for the Cardinals. First pitch: 2:15 p.m. ET on SportsNet Pittsburgh/93.7 The Fan.
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