Despite taking the loss in the series finale against the first place Pirates, Shane McClanahan should be leaving Pittsburgh feeing really good about where he is at. Yes, he surrendered four runs over four and a third innings, allowing eight hits in the process. However, that was the sharpest the southpaw has looked in three years. For the first time this season he walked none. He also struck out five and consistently made quality pitches under duress. While we all would have loved to see the Rays come away with a third consecutive series win and a 5-1 road trip, I’ll settle for a 4-2 road trip and another significant step forward for Mac on the bump. His continued upward trajectory bodes well for this team and its depleted rotation.
McClanahan was under duress from the very first batter as former Rays outfielder Jake Mangum laced a leadoff double in the bottom of the first. Gonzales quickly followed with a single and just like that, he had to work to limit the damage. He did just that. Mangum scored on a force out, but McClanahan rallied to retire Ozuna and Cruz by way of the K.
He worked a quick 1-2-3 second inning but again had to deal with Mangum in the third. With one out, Mangum put down a perfect bunt and advance to second on an errant and ill-advised throw by McClanahan. With Pirates starter Mitch Keller cruising, it felt imperative that Mangum didn’t score. Shane induced a pop up to first and struck out Bryan Reynolds to end the threat.
In the fourth inning, McClanahan found himself in trouble after Ozuna laced a double to left to start the inning. Again, he worked out of the jam by way of a strikeout, ground out, and pop up. In each of the first four innings, he made competitive pitch after competitive pitch under stress. He avoided free passes by way of the walk and worked his slider and changeup off a fastball that seemed to have a bit of extra life. All positive signs.
The Rays offense found some two-out magic in the top of the fifth inning and finally got to Mitch Keller. Prior to a Richcie Palacios double to right, Keller had retired thirteen in a row. It was the Rays first hit since Simpsons single to open the game. DeLuca singled moving Palacios to third and then stole second to give the Rays two runners in scoring position. Feduccia delivered with a two-RBI single to give the Rays a 2-1 lead.
The Pirates offense had an answer in the bottom of the fifth and eventually chased McClanahan who surrendered a leadoff double to Bart off the center field wall. Billy Cook reached on a bunt base bit and pushed Bart to third. With runners at second and third, Mangum grounded out and it once again felt like Shane might escape another jam. He got Gonzales to hit a weak pop up to center. Unfortunately, it was too weak and just out of the reach of a diving Mullins. Bart scored to tie the game at 2-2 and some sloppy defense allowed the runners to advance to second and third. With the infield in, Reynolds slapped a ground ball past Walls scoring Cook and Gonzales. With the Pirates leading 4-2, Cash emerged from the dugout and McClanahan’s day was over. He was inches away from potentially getting out of the inning and leaving with a chance at his second win in as many starts.
The Pirates scored again in the sixth and eight innings while the Rays only score once more, in the 9th inning, when Junior hit his fifth homerun of the year, a solo shot, to make it a 6-3 Pirates lead. Englert and Seymour covered the final 3.2 innings giving the rest of the bullpen some much needed rest.
With the loss and Yankees win, the Rays now sit a half game back of first with a record of 12-9. They will welcome the Reds to the Trop for a three-game set starting Monday night.