Mitch Keller's dominant start again wasted by Pirates' futile hitting against Mets

Colin Beazley, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette on May 13, 2025

Published in Baseball

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NEW YORK — Manager Don Kelly shuffled the Pittsburgh Pirates’ lineup on Tuesday night, likely hoping some changes would change the Pirates’ offensive fortunes.

Those changes had little effect. The Pirates lost to the New York Mets 2-1 on a rainy Tuesday at Citi Field. The Pirates have now scored four or fewer runs in 19 consecutive games, extending a franchise record they set Monday night.

Pirates starter Mitch Keller was excellent, giving up two runs on five hits in seven innings. He struck out eight. He misplaced two changeups to lefties, with one going for a Brandon Nimmo RBI double in the first inning and another ending as a Brett Baty opposite-field homer in the seventh.

The Pirates, using a restructured lineup that had Adam Frazier leading off, Isiah Kiner-Falefa batting second, Joey Bart as a designated hitter for the third time this season and Ji Hwan Bae starting in center, could not get Keller any run support. The Pirates went 0 for 10 with runners in scoring position, scoring their only run on a bases loaded walk from Joey Bart in the sixth.

Mets starter Kodai Senga completed 5 2/3 innings, allowing six hits. He was charged with the Pirates' run, although it was Mets reliever Reed Garrett who walked in the run.

Keller fell to 1-5 in nine starts this season. He lowered his ERA from 4.40 to 4.15 despite his sixth quality start of the year.

It was over when …

The Pirates got runners on second and third with one out in the ninth after Frazier walked and stole second and Kiner-Falefa reached on a Francisco Lindor error. But Bryan Reynolds struck out on a 3-2 pitch before Bart grounded out to second.

Mets closer Edwin Diaz got the save, his ninth of the year.

On the mound

Keller mixed his pitches effectively, but had particular success with his fastball. He got 13 whiffs, with eight coming on the heater. His only mistakes were with his changeup, which he threw for just six of his 96 pitches.

At the plate

The Pirates had seven hits and got runners on against Senga, but couldn’t get them in. The Pirates left a runner on third in the second, third, fourth, fifth and sixth innings.

The fourth inning was particularly frustrating. The Pirates had runners on the corners with no outs, but Alexander Canario, Jared Triolo and Bae struck out consecutively against Senga.

Most valuable player

Keller was better than Senga, but Senga left the game without allowing a run.

Up next

The Pirates and Mets conclude their three-game series on Wednesday night at 7:10 p.m. ET. Bailey Falter (2-3, 4.36 ERA) faces Mets starter Clay Holmes (5-1, 2.74), a former Pirate.

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