Pittsburgh Pirates Once Again Fail to Sweep Series

The Pittsburgh Pirates lost to the Washington Nationals while going for a sweep on Sunday afternoon dropping them to 0-13 this season when going for a series sweep

Death, taxes, the Pittsburgh Pirates losing when going for a series sweep. Well, that’s been the case in 2021 at least. Following a 6-2 loss against the Washington Nationals on Sunday afternoon the Pittsburgh Pirates are now 0-13 this season when going for a series sweep. This loss dropped their overall record on the season to 52-91.

It is truly incredible that the Pittsburgh Pirates have struggled so much when going for a series sweep. A team almost has to try to lose all 13 times they have an opportunity to sweep a series. At this point betting on the Pirates to lose the final game of a series when they are in position to sweep appears to be easy money.

4th inning sinks Bryse Wilson

Since joining the Pittsburgh Pirates at the trade deadline Bryse Wilson has pitched well for the Bucs. Sunday afternoon he turned in his first poor start as a Pirate, as he was sunk by a poor 4th inning.

Through the first 3 innings on Sunday all Wilson allowed was a Luis Garcia solo home run, a single and he had issued a walk. With the Pirates leading 2-1 Wilson retired the first two Washington batters in the 4th inning before allowing a two-out solo home run to Alex Avila. This is where the wheels fell off for Wilson.

Following the Avila home run he allowed a double, a single to opposing pitcher Patrick Corbin and then a 3-run home run to Lane Thomas, making the score 5-2 Nationals. Wilson then got a pop out to end the inning.

Wilson recorded the first out of the 5th inning before being pulled, setting his final line on the day at 5 runs allowed on 7 hits, 3 home runs, a pair of walks and he did not strike any opposing batters out.

The biggest at-bat of the day for Wilson came when he failed to retire Corbin with two outs in the 4th inning. Had Wilson retired the opposing pitcher he would have sent the game to the 5th inning with the game tied at 2. Failing to retire Corbin was the biggest single AB of the game.

Pirate offense struggles

Sunday afternoon was not a good day for the Pirate offense. Their 2 runs came when Wilmer Difo scored on a sacrifice bunt by Wilson in the 2nd inning to tie the game at 1. Bryan Reynolds then gave the Pittsburgh Pirates a 2-1 lead with a sacrifice fly in the 3rd inning.

This was it for the Bucco bats on Sunday afternoon.

Pittsburgh finished the game with just 5, with a Kevin Newman triple being the lone extra base hit of the day. Reynolds, Colin Moran and Hoy Park each drew a walk, and that was it for Pirate base runners on Sunday afternoon. The team left just 4 runners on base, while going 0-for-5 with runners in scoring position.

What’s next?

Following a day off on Monday the Pittsburgh Pirates will return to action on Tuesday night. The Pirates plan to send lefty Dillon Peters (3.38 ERA, 3.54 FIP) to the mound to kickoff a three-game series against the Cincinnati Reds. Fellow lefty Wade Miley (2.89 ERA, 3.73 FIP) will take the mound for the Reds. First pitch from PNC Park is scheduled for 6:35 PM ET.