The Pittsburgh Pirates blew another lead and were defeated 8-5 by the Colorado Rockies for their second-straight loss to start the series.

Liover Peguero belted three home runs and drove in all five runs for Pittsburgh, but Paul Skenes scuffled in the sixth and Colorado piled on in the late innings to cruise to a win.

The Pirates (47-64) will try and salvage their series with the Rockies (30-80) on Sunday afternoon in Denver.

First pitch is set for 3:10 p.m. ET, and the game will be broadcast on SportsNet Pittsburgh and 93.7 The Fan.

Weather

Sunny skies and temperatures creeping up towards the upper 80s. Winds NE at 9-10 mph.

RHP Mitch Keller (4-10, 3.69 ERA) Will Start for the Pirates

Despite heavy trade interest and speculation leading up to the deadline, Keller was not dealt and will toe the rubber on Sunday.

He’ll look for better results than his last time out, when he lasted just two innings and allowed three runs against the San Francisco Giants.

His last start ended a streak of four-straight quality starts. Keller trails only the Houston Astros’ Framber Valdez and Philadelphia Phillies’ Zack Wheeler (both have 16) with 15 quality starts this season.

Keller has dominated the Rockies in his career. In four appearances, the right-hander is 2-1 with a 0.39 ERA. He allowed one unearned run in six innings in his lone start at Coors Field.

RHP Bradley Blalock (1-2, 7.09 ERA) Will Start for the Rockies

Blalock threw six-shutout innings and struck out seven batters against the Cleveland Guardians in his last start.

In three starts during July, the right-hander went 1-0 with a 1.59 ERA while issuing just one walk across 17 innings.

Blalock’s inflated ERA is somewhat deceptive. 18 of the 26 earned runs he’s allowed this season have come in two starts — a combined 7.2 innings. Combined between his six other appearances, Blalock has a 2.84 ERA.

This will be his first start against Pittsburgh.

Rockies Hitters vs. Keller

Kyle Farmer: 8 for 15, one double, one RBI, three walks, two strikeouts
Orlando Arcia: 5 for 8, one double, one RBI
Mickey Moniak: 3 for 7, one double, three strikeouts
Austin Nola: 3 for 6, one double
Brenton Doyle: 0 for 3, one strikeout
Ezequiel Tovar: 0 for 3, two strikeouts

Pirates Hitters vs. Blalock

Tidbits

Liover Peguero became the first Pirates player to hit three home runs in a game since Michael Pérez belted three agaisnt the Milwaukee Brewers on June 30, 2022.
Paul Skenes was charged with more earned runs (four) than he was combined between his five July starts (two).
Dauri Moreta, who was recalled by the Pirates prior to the start of the game, retired the only batter he faced in the bottom of the eighth. It was his first time pitching for Pittsburgh since Oct. 1, 2023.

Links

Liover Peguero Belts Three Home Runs But Pirates Fall to Rockies Again; Another Big Blown Lead

Pirates Roster Moves: Slew of Transactions Following Deadline Deals

Only One Way for Pirates to Salvage Lackluster Trade Deadline

Perrotto: Pirates’ Grand Plan Is They Have No Plan

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