Sunday afternoon was busy for the Pirates, as they added some pitching depth before losing to the Chicago Cubs in extra innings, extending their losing streak to four games.
Prior to the team's game on Sunday, the team announced that they had acquired relief pitcher Tyler Bashlor from the New York Mets in exchange for cash considerations.
Bashlor, 28, was designated for assignment by the Mets on July 28. In 22 innings of work during the 2019 season, Bashlor posted a 6.95 ERA with 20 strikeouts and 17 walks. On his weekly radio show, general manager Ben Cherington said that Bashlor will likely be sent to the team's alternate training site in Altoona.
In a corresponding move, lefty reliever Robbie Erlin was designated for assignment. In 3.1 innings of work, Erlin pitched to a 5.40 ERA with four strikeouts.
Pitchers Mitch Keller and Michael Feliz, who were sent to the injury list following separate injuries on Saturday, were replaced on the roster by pitchers Cody Ponce and Sam Howard.
As for Sunday's contest with the Cubs (7-2), a lack of scoring was the key storyline again.
Kevin Newman blasted a solo homerun, his first of the season, in the game's first inning to give the Pirates (2-7) an early 1-0 lead. Newman would go 2-for-4 on the afternoon.
Following three perfect innings with four strikeouts, Steven Brault was pulled in favor of Chad Kuhl, who consequently surrendered a game-tying double to Kyle Schwarber in the fourth inning.
The Pirates had an opportunity to take a late lead in the eighth when Adam Frazier singled and Jose Osuna walked. However, Cubs reliever Dan Winkler struck out the red-hot Colin Moran on three pitches to end the frame.
Sam Howard, who was claimed off waivers from Colorado last October, pitched two innings of scoreless work and struck out three batters, including escaping a 10th-inning jam in which the Cubs had the game-winning run on third base with just one out.
In the top of the 10th inning, Josh Bell slapped a single to right. Jacob Stallings, the intentional runner on second base, was thrown out at the plate on a strong throw by Kyle Schwarber, and the Pirates failed to bring another run across.
Ponce, who was acquired from Milwaukee in exchange for Jordan Lyles last July, made his MLB debut in the bottom of the 11th. With intentional runner David Bote on second base, Anthony Rizzo advanced Bote to third on a flyout, and Javier Baez brought him home with a walkoff single into center field.
The Pirates will continue their roadtrip when they begin a two-game series with the Minnesota Twins at Target Field in Minneapolis on Monday, while the Cubs will welcome the Kansas City Royals into Wrigley Field.
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