No hits over final eight innings leave Pirates (still) wanting by the 14th

TORONTO -- There wasn't much that benefitted the Pirates over the final eight innings Friday night at Rogers Centre. Their offensive output was non-existent -- aside from two go-ahead sacrifice flies -- and they lacked the ability to close things out when twice taking extra-inning leads.

There was a defensive miscue that cost them a run and then there were two baserunning gaffes by Oneil Cruz and Jared Triolo that added to the poor stretch. Ultimately, it all factored into a 5-3, 14-inning loss to the Blue Jays at Rogers Centre. 

Derek Shelton's assessment focused in on the team's ability to stay within reach, despite the offensive shortage, missed opportunities and mistakes that ultimately played roles in the setback. 

"They continued to battle. We continued to go," Shelton said. "We faced a good bullpen, a good club. We made some good plays. There were some plays we probably need to look at and be better at. Overall, we came up a little short." 

The Pirates generated one legitimate run, on this fifth-inning RBI single by Andrew McCutchen: 

It was one of six hits they mustered through six innings against Toronto starter Jose Berrios. After Berrios retired the side in order to finish his outing in the seventh, the Blue Jays' bullpen covered seven innings of no-hit ball, allowing a walk and two unearned runs on those aforementioned extra-inning sacrifice flies by Bryan Reynolds in the 11th and Ke'Bryan Hayes in the 12th. 

While there was a definite shortage of hits down the stretch, opportunities were aplenty. They had a chance to score with the runner-on-second rule in effect in three separate innings. But instead of clutch hits, there were outs committed on pop flies in the infield and strikeouts that ended any hope of putting together a big inning. 

In the eyes of Shelton, the arms of Chad Green, Yimi Garcia, Nate Person, Tim Mayza and Genesis Cabrera made the biggest difference in the offense's inability to produce during the latter stages. 

"I think it was their bullpen. You saw two bullpens kinda go toe-to-toe after each other," Shelton said. "They executed pitches and got out of big spots, too. So did our guys." 

The Pirates' bullpen limited the Blue Jays to just two earned runs over 7 2/3 innings after Bailey Falter delivered with six scoreless innings en route to his fourth straight quality start and sixth of the season. Falter allowed two hits and two walks while striking out five: 

Colin Holderman allowed an earned run -- his first since his season debut on April 11 -- after he hit George Springer with a pitch and then allowed an RBI double to Daniel Vogelbach in the seventh inning. Ji Hwan Bae appeared to lose the ball in the air and couldn't make a play on it, allowing the Jays to even up a game in which runs were at a premium. 

"I'm assuming it's twilight here," Shelton said in regards to the miscue by Bae. "It's the first time he's ever been in this ballpark. Because the game went fast, we were in a really strange spot. There were a couple balls that went up in the field the next inning whenever we hit that you could tell that they had trouble staying with. I think it was just something that he just lost in the twilight." 

Aroldis Chapman and David Bednar kept the Jays at bay in the eighth and ninth innings before Hunter Stratton and Carmen Mlodzinski each allowed an unearned run in two innings apiece. Stratton had the Jays down to their final out in the 11th, but a two-out walk was followed by a two-out single by Springer that tied the game at 2-2. Kevin Kiermaier plated another tying run off Mlodzinski in the 12th and, after a scoreless 13th, Davis Schneider called game with this two-run homer off Kyle Nicolas in the 14th: 

"The bullpen really kept us in the game tonight," Falter said. "The position players were solid out there as well. It’s a tough one to swallow, but that’s why we play 162. We’ll get back after it tomorrow and we’ll get these guys.” 

Mitch Keller will get the start for the Pirates Saturday. He will be opposed by Yusei Kikuchi. First pitch is 3:07 p.m.

"We just have to come back out, Mitch will give us a good start tomorrow, and go after it," Shelton said. "You have to be resilient."