The Pittsburgh Pirates stranded the tying run at third base in consecutive losses at Coors Field, becoming the first MLB team in 50 years to suffer such specific back-to-back heartbreak.
The Pittsburgh Pirates earned a dubious distinction while losing back-to-back road games to the Colorado Rockies on Friday and Saturday nights.
According to OptaSTATS, the Pirates are the only major-league team over the last 50 years to have the tying run on third base with no outs in the ninth inning in two games in a row, but lost both.
On Friday night, Pittsburgh trailed the Rockies 4-3 heading into the top of the ninth. The Pirates loaded the bases with none out as Marcell Ozuna singled, Brandon Lowe reached on shortstop Ezequiel Tovar’s fielding error, and Endy Rodriguez.
Yet Pittsburgh came up empty. Tyler Callihan struck out, and Jared Triolo grounded into a game-ending double play.
The Pirates had an even more frustrating ending on Saturday when they were down 2-1 to start the ninth.
Lowe hit a leadoff double and took third on Bryan Reynolds’ single. Billy Cook pinch ran for Reynolds, who did start the night before because of left groin tightness. After Ryan O’Hearn struck out, Nick Gonzalez was hit by a pitch, loading the bases.
Yet, Pittsburgh couldn’t cash in. Callihan struck out for the second out for the second night in a row, then the game ended in a strange fashion as the Pirates were called for baserunners' interference as Cook was ruled to have obstructed third baseman Kyle Karros, who was fielding a slow roller hit by Jake Mangum.
The speedy Mangum beat the throw for an apparent game-tying single. Alas, the run didn't count.
The losses to the Rockies (30-47), who have the worst record in the major league, have dropped the Pirates (38-39) to under .500. Pittsburgh will attempt to avoid being swept on Sunday in the finale of the three-game series at Coors Field in Denver.
The Pirates are averaging 4.97 per game, which is fifth in the major leagues. However, they are 28th in runners left in scoring position, stranding 3.95 per game.
"It's a tough loss," Pittsburgh manager Don Kelly told reporters. “Two in a row, to have guys in scoring position late in the game, battle back. We've got to find a way. We have to score there."
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