Mitch Keller didn't exactly celebrate his 29th birthday in ideal fashion by allowing seven runs over 3 2/3 innings in the Pirates' home opener Friday night. 

Keller struggled with efficiency, especially over the first two innings in which he threw 56 of his 97 pitches, and couldn't close out hitters with two outs to put an end to productive third and fourth innings for the Yankees. 

Keller gave up a two-run one-out single to Oswaldo Cabrera in the second before allowing three more run-scoring singles, all of which came with two outs in the inning. Jasson Dominguez and Cabrera each plated a run in the third before Anthony Volpe cashed in in the fourth. 

"In the third and the fourth, I think he got two outs on eight pitches and nine pitches. His command kind of got away from him," Derek Shelton said. "It was really uncharacteristic of what we saw in his first start and all throughout spring training. It just looked like his misses were really inconsistent. He was really efficient for two hitters in both of those innings, then things got away. It really, really hurt him."

Keller, who surrendered eight hits, walked four and struck out four, said he simply has to throw more strikes early in counts. He pointed at his inability to accomplish that goal, especially with his offspeed pitches, as being the leading factor in his poor performance.

"I just gotta land it for strikes," Keller said. "That's really what it came down to, honestly. Getting behind and then a couple walks, hit by pitches, a couple broken-bat singles and ground balls up the middle. Just frustrating because it's not like I was getting hit around the yard for doubles and homers. It was very controllable stuff. That loss is completely on me. Just got to do my best next time to throw strikes earlier in counts to eliminate the unlucky hits." 

Here's Keller's full media availability: