Ray Kerr struggled early and the Atlanta Braves never recovered in a 11-5 loss Friday night to the Pittsburgh Pirates.
Kerr was recalled on Friday and was making his first career start. He found himself in trouble early as Andrew McCutchen singles and then moved to third on a one-out double by Connor Joe. Kerr struck out Edward Olivares for the second out, but couldn’t escape as Nick Gonzales singled to put the Pirates in front 2-0.
Kerr got through the second unscathed, but the Pirates got back to work in the third. Joe led off the inning with a double and then advanced to third on an errant pickoff attempt by Kerr. Oliveras singled to make it 3-0. Kerr then retired Gonzales on a ground out and struck out Jared Triolo, but again couldn’t escape. A wild pitch moved Olivares to third and Oneil Cruz walked. Yasmani Grandal followed with a double down the right field line that scored both to push the advantage to 5-0.
Meanwhile, the Braves’ offense struggled against Pittsburgh lefty Bailey Falter who retired the first nine men he faced. Ronald Acuña Jr. singled to start the fourth, but was erased on a double play. Marcell Ozuna doubled to the right center gap, but Matt Olson grounded out to end the inning.
Kerr exited after retiring the side in order in the fourth. It was a tough outing for him having allowed seven hits and five runs. He finished with one walk and six strikeouts while throwing 72 pitches.
Darius Vines entered in the fifth and was unable to halt Pittsburgh’s momentum. A two-run home run by Triolo pushed the lead to 7-0. The Pirates added three more runs in the sixth on an RBI single by Olivares and a two-run double by Gonzales to make it 10-0. A sacrifice fly by Michael A. Taylor in the seventh rounded out the scoring.
The Braves entered the game as the only team in the majors to not be shutout this season and finally broke through in the eighth inning. Michael Harris singled off Falter to get things started. Zack Short worked a one-out walk and Acuña brought everyone home with a home run to center field. That ended Falter’s night, but the offense wasn’t finished. Ozzie Albies and Olson walked and then came around to score on a double by Travis d’Arnaud to make it 11-5.
Jesse Chavez worked a scoreless eighth, but Atlanta went away quietly in the ninth.
The loss drops the Braves to 29-19 on the season. The series will continue Saturday with Reynaldo Lopez matching up against Mitch Keller.
