Shutout in Oakland: Pirates Blanked by A’s Capping Off 3-Game Sweep

OAKLAND — Despite three Oakland A’s errors, the Pittsburgh Pirates couldn’t score a single run and thus couldn’t avoid being swept in Oakland, falling 4-0 in Wednesday’s series finale. 

The Pirates were 0-6 with runners in scoring position and left ten on base. They ended this six game road trip with 46 men left on base and went 2 for 36 with runners in scoring position. 

The A’s got the scoring started in their half of the second on a one-out solo home run by Abraham Toro.  Oakland got another run in the third on a solo shot by Ryan Nevin, his second of the series. 

It looked like Quinn Priester would cruise through the fifth inning, getting the first two men out on three pitches. But an infield single and two walks loaded the bases for Abraham Toro. Toro hit a grounder to Oneil Cruz, whose throw pulled Rowdy Tellez off the bag, scoring Tyler Nevin to make it 3-0. 

Kyle McCann added an RBI single off of David Bednar in the eighth to give Oakland an insurance run.

After being roughed up by the Red Sox in his 2024 debut two Fridays ago, Priester (0-2) had two solid outings. On Wednesday, he allowed three runs– two earned– on five hits, walking four, striking out three and giving up two homers. For Oakland, Ross Stripling (1-5) got the win, pitching six shutout frames and allowing three hits, walking none and striking out two. 

The Pirates are now 14-18 and have lost 16 of 21. They now have an off day before starting a nine-game homestand Friday against the Rockies at PNC Park. Martin Perez (1-1, 2.86 ERA) is scheduled to go for the Pirates against a Colorado pitcher yet to be determined. Perez was the Pirates’ starter the last time they won a game, which was Saturday night in San Francisco. He pitched six strong innings, allowing just one earned run. 

The Rockies are 7-22 as of this writing.