Mlodzinski wanted to have a better outing that he did in last season’s debut, and pitched quite well vs. the Mets.<\/p>\n
He would give up six hits and two earned runs, but also struck out a career-high eight batters, as he kept it. tie game following his departure after 4.1 innings and 85 pitches.<\/p>\n
Mlodzinski relied mostly on his four-seasm fastball, but also worked in his sinker, splitter and curveball to good effect, earning most of his strikeouts that way.<\/p>\n
Pitch<\/p>\n
Usage<\/p>\n
Average Velocity<\/p>\n
Four-Seam Fastball<\/p>\n
32\/85 (38%)<\/p>\n
94.4 mph<\/p>\n
Sinker<\/p>\n
18\/85 (21%) <\/p>\n
93.8 mph<\/p>\n
Splitter<\/p>\n
17\/85 (20%)<\/p>\n
84.5 mph<\/p>\n
Curveball<\/p>\n
15\/85 (18%)<\/p>\n
83.1 mph<\/p>\n
Slider<\/p>\n
3\/85 (4%) <\/p>\n
90.4 mph<\/p>\n
He gave up his first run on a sacrifice fly from Mets center fielder Luis Robert Jr. in the bottom of the second inning and then on a single from left fielder Juan Soto in the bottom of the fifth inning, which scored shortstop Francisco Lindor, which eventually ended his outing.<\/p>\n
Mlodzinski would strikeout the side in the bottom of the first inning and the third inning, doing so vs. Lindor, Soto and third baseman Bo Bichette both times. <\/p>\n
![\"Pittsburgh](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-pa\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/01kmxnga5r8qgx114x3k.jpg\" "\\"Pittsburgh")
<\/p>\n
Mar 29, 2026; New York City, New York, USA; Pittsburgh Pirates relief pitcher Carmen Mlodzinski (50) pitches against the New York Mets during the first inning at Citi Field. Mandatory Credit: Brad Penner-Imagn Images | Brad Penner-Imagn Images<\/p>\n
He will get more chances to start going forward and this outing shows he’s a changed pitcher from the beginning of 2025.<\/p>\n
Pirates Offense Struggles After Early Runs<\/p>\n
The Pirates took an early lead in the first inning, as center fielder Oneil Cruz<\/a> and second baseman Brandon Lowe<\/a> walked and then right fielder Ryan O’Hearn singled to opposite field, scoring Cruz for a 1-0 advantage.<\/p>\n Lowe gave the Pirates the lead back in the top of the third inning with a solo home run off of Mets rookie right-handed starting pitcher Nolan McLean, taking a fastball in the high part of the strike zone and putting it over the right center field wall, giving them a 2-1 lead.<\/p>\n The Pirates then missed numerous opportunities to add onto their lead and give them the lead later on.<\/p>\n O’Hearn singled and shortstop Jared Triolo got hit by a pitch after the Lowe home run, but first baseman Spencer Horwitz struck out to end that chance.<\/p>\n Lowe hit a one-out double in the top of the fifth inning, but designated hitter Bryan Reynolds and O’Hearn struck out back-to-back.<\/p>\n Cruz made it to second base on a single and a pickoff attempt that went awry with two outs in the top of the seventh inning, but Lowe would ground out. <\/p>\n Triolo and pinch-hitter Nick Yorke had back-to-back walks with two outs in the top of the eighth inning, but third baseman Nick Gonzales grounded out.<\/p>\n Pittsburgh Pirates second baseman Nick Yorke (38) hits a sacrifice to score Horwitz from from third base in the eighth inning of the MLB National League game between the Cincinnati Reds and the Pittsburgh Pirates at Great American Ball Park in downtown Cincinnati on Thursday, Sept. 25, 2025. The Reds won, 2-1. | Sam Greene\/The Enquirer \/ USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images<\/p>\n Davis led off the top of the ninth inning with a walk and then made it to second base on a sacrifice bunt from left fielder Jake Mangum<\/a>.<\/p>\n Cruz struck out and Lowe walked to put two runners on, but Reynolds grounded out to end yet another scoring chance. <\/p>\n The Pirates were 1-for-11 with runners in scoring position through nine innings and left 10 players on base.<\/p>\n Pirates Bullpen Comes in After Mlodzinski<\/p>\n Right-handed pitcher Yohan Ram\u00edrez took over from Mlodzinski in the bottom of the fifth inning and got Bichette to ground out and then struck out first baseman Jorge Polanco to end the frame.<\/p>\n Ram\u00edrez would walk Robert to start the bottom of the sixth inning, but catcher Henry Davis threw him out trying to steal. He then posted a strikeout and fly out to end the inning.<\/p>\n It’s a strong start to 2026 for Ram\u00edrez, who threw 2.1 scoreless innings of relief, after starting pitcher Paul Skenes didn’t make it out of the first inning on Opening Day on March 26.<\/p>\n Mar 26, 2026; New York City, New York, USA; Pittsburgh Pirates relief pitcher Yohan Ramirez (49) follows through on a pitch against the New York Mets during the second inning at Citi Field. Mandatory Credit: Brad Penner-Imagn Images | Brad Penner-Imagn Images<\/p>\n Left-handed pitcher Mason Montgomery came on for the Pirates in the bottom of the seventh inning and after striking out right fielder Carson Benge, he gave up back-to-back singles to catcher Luis Torrens and Lindor.<\/p>\n Montgomery threw a wild pitch that moved both runners into scoring position, but worked out of his conundrum, striking out Soto and Bichette back-to-back.<\/p>\n Right-handed relief pitcher Isaac Mattson had a good comeback after a tough outing on Opening Day, with two strikeouts and a fly out to keep it level heading into the ninth inning.<\/p>\n Fellow right-handed relief pitcher Dennis Santana also made quick work of the Mets in the bottom of the ninth inning to get the game into extras.<\/p>\n Pirates and Mets Go to Extra Innings<\/p>\n O’Hearn kept up his great day at the plate with an RBI-single to leadoff the top of the 10th inning, scoring Reynolds to give the Pirates a 3-2 lead.<\/p>\n Triolo grounded into a double play, but Yorke and Gonzales had back-to-back walks and then Davis hit a single, scoring Yorke to double the Pirates’ lead at 4-2.<\/p>\n![\"Pittsburgh](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-pa\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/01kmxp0kn2543eze3pqz.jpg\" "\\"Pittsburgh")
<\/p>\n![\"Pittsburgh](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-pa\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/01kmxp4smj0k5dm7tme6.jpg\" "\\"Pittsburgh")
<\/p>\n
![\"](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-pa\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/01kmxnyqy964mg6fbkj4.jpg\" "\\"")
<\/p>\n