Sloppy outfield play from Oneil Cruz, Alexander Canario dooms Pirates in loss to Rangers

Colin Beazley, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette on Jun 20, 2025

Published in Baseball

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PITTSBURGH — The Pirates had an adventure in the outfield at PNC Park on Friday night. It ended with a 6-2 Texas Rangers win.

It started on the fourth pitch of the game. With a runner on first, outfielder Sam Haggerty hit what looked to be a routine single to center off Mike Burrows. Instead, the ball went under center fielder Oneil Cruz’s glove. By the time right fielder Adam Frazier retrieved it, a run was in and Haggerty stood on third. Haggerty quickly scored on a Mike Burrows wild pitch.

It continued in the sixth. Cruz raced backward, trying to catch a liner over his head. He wasn’t able to come up with what would have been an excellent catch, then crashed full-speed into the wall. He recovered enough to throw the ball in, but spent a few seconds composing himself on a knee. He waved a trainer back to the dugout.

The crescendo came in the seventh. Second baseman Marcus Semien laced a ball to the left-center field notch off Braxton Ashcraft, and Cruz and left fielder Alexander Canario collided trying to collect it. Canario eventually got it, but slipped as he tried to set his feet to throw it in. He flipped the ball to Cruz, whose throw held Semien to a triple.

It was that kind of night for the Pirates.

It got worse in the ninth, when reliever Ryan Borucki loaded the bases and left with a trainer. Caleb Ferguson got the final two outs, although a final Rangers run came in on a groundout.

Burrows took the loss, allowing four runs in 4 2/3 innings to fall to 1-2. Rangers starter Jacob DeGrom allowed both runs, but pitched six innings and earned the win to improve to 7-2. He struck out seven Pirates.

It was over when …

The sloppy seventh inning was the dagger, although after the start, it never truly felt like the Pirates would win. Semien scored the fifth run, coming home on a fan-interference aided double from right fielder Adolis Garcia.

On the mound

Burrows wasn’t as sharp as his first three June outings, where he’d allowed three runs in 15 innings. He struck out four, but allowed seven hits. Two went for homers, as Garcia hit a solo shot to lead off the fourth and shortstop Corey Seager added another solo homer in the fifth.

At the plate

DeGrom was perfect for almost four innings before a brief fourth inning implosion. With two outs, the Pirates brought in two runs on four singles and a walk. Catcher Joey Bart brought in the first run, scoring second baseman Nick Gonzales from third, then Frazier scored Horwitz with a bases loaded single.

Canario struck out to end the inning. He went 1 for 4 with three strikeouts and a ninth inning single.

Most valuable player

Garcia went 3 for 4 with a walk and finished a triple short of the cycle. He scored twice and had two RBIs.

Up next

The Pirates and Rangers continue their three-game series Saturday at 4:05 p.m. ET. Mitch Keller (1-9, 4.08) will face Texas right-hander Kumar Rocker (2-4, 7.31).

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