Despite 4-run inning, Pirates come up just short in loss to Angels

PITTSBURGH — Mathematically speaking, the Pirates did enough in certain areas to win.

They tagged opposing starter Jose Soriano for four runs, and the Angels entered Wednesday afternoon just 2-13 when their starting hurler gave up at least that many tallies. The Pirates, meanwhile, came into PNC Park with a sparkling 14-1 record this season when they pushed across four or more runs.

Add another figure to the loss column, though, as the Pirates’ strong suits failed them during a 5-4 defeat to drop the three-game series to the Angels. Martin Perez yielded four earned runs for just the second time this season, and right-hander Luis Ortiz gave up the game-winning run in the fifth.

While the Pirates chased Soriano in a four-run fifth, their bats were otherwise kept quiet by the former Pittsburgh farmhand, whom they claimed in the Rule 5 draft in 2020 before letting him go back to the Angels. Three of the Pirates’ six hits came in the fifth.

There wasn’t much by way of offense for the Pirates the rest of the afternoon; in fact, four Angels relievers combined to record the final 13 outs in order. Though the Pirates did more than enough to win in their typical fashion, Wednesday’s loss was anything but for the squad that, in starting its homestand 3-3, is back to four games below .500.

On the mound

Aside from a Jo Adell home run in the third, Perez’s first four innings were relatively stress free. He even meandered his way through the fifth, giving up one run to remain in line for what would have been Perez’s fourth quality start this season.

Instead, he failed to get an out in the sixth before being relieved by Ortiz, who allowed both inherited runners to score and one of his own, too. Against a right-handed-heavy lineup, Perez relied heavily on his cutter, throwing it more often than any pitch.

The approach worked the first time through the Angels order but not so much the second. In total, Perez gave up eight hits, tying the season high he yielded to the Rockies in his last start.

While Perez has been a nice addition to the Pirates rotation as an offseason signee, his past two appearances have been among his most challenging with the club.

At the plate

The Pirates’ fifth-inning rally with two outs was exactly the kind that’s proven fleeting in recent weeks. Andrew McCutchen and Bryan Reynolds both walked to join Joey Bart on the basepaths, and Oneil Cruz drove all three home with a double.

Cruz, who singled earlier in the game, went below the strike zone to drive a splitter from Soriano all the way to the wall in right-center. Connor Joe plated Cruz three pitches later with a single to the right side, one of two hits on the afternoon for the Pirates right fielder.

Center fielder Jack Suwinski also doubled in the second, his first extra-base hit since April 25. Suwinski has had a rough start to the year but has put together better swings in the last handful of games to inch closer to the Mendoza line.