Defensive mishaps, including Oneil Cruz's 23rd error, loom large in Pirates' latest loss

Two weeks ago, Pittsburgh Pirates first baseman Rowdy Tellez was spotted chatting with Oneil Cruz in the dugout by the SportsNet Pittsburgh broadcast during a road loss to the Houston Astros.

Cruz committed three errors that loomed very large in the one-run defeat.

“You’re a big part of this team,” Tellez told TribLive of what he said to Cruz. “We all have ups and downs, we all have rough days but in the end, we won that series. We’re going to look at those things and move forward.”

The clip of Rowdy Tellez talking with Oneil Cruz after Cruz's 3 error game. #letsgobucs pic.twitter.com/l03CZrVcdG

— Bridge to Buctober Podcast (@bridge2buctober) August 1, 2024

Following Tuesday’s loss at San Diego, the Pirates’ ninth straight, Cruz might be in need of another pep talk, as he committed a costly error in the first inning and was involved in two additional frustrating defensive plays.

Speaking with reporters Monday, manager Derek Shelton seemed to find some small dose of comfort in noting that seven of his club’s last 11 games have been one-run losses.

“We’re right there. We continue to battle,” Shelton said on the SportsNet Pittsburgh postgame show.

Shelton said he’s not doubting his club’s effort, but given the Pirates’ ongoing putrid stretch, the handful of sloppy defensive plays during Tuesday’s defeat that allowed two of San Diego’s three runs are sure to be magnified.

It was the bottom of the first inning when Cruz committed his 23rd error of the year, inexplicably failing to catch a routine throw from Luis Ortiz on what should have been a 1-6-3 double play.

Cruz’s error loaded the bases with no outs.

“He dropped a double play ball,” Shelton said. “He’s got to catch that ball. That’s a routine play. (Ortiz) did a good job. He was struggling early, he got a ground ball, and that’s a ball that’s got to be caught.”

The Padres would score only one run in the first, courtesy of a Manny Machado sacrifice fly, with Ortiz escaping the frame via an unassisted double play by Ke’Bryan Hayes.

In the eighth inning, with the Pirates trailing 2-0, more defensive mishaps gifted San Diego another run.

With Kyle Nicolas on the hill, Luis Arraez singled to right field, only for Bryan De La Cruz to bobble the ball when trying to make a throw back into the infield.

Arraez took second base as a result of the error and three batters later, Machado singled him home on a ball that got past Cruz at shortstop.

Cruz was not charged with an error on the play, which saw him slide in an attempt to field Machado’s hit, but the ball deflected off his glove, allowing Arraez to easily score.

“We gave away too many outs,” Shelton said. “You cannot give a team that’s this good extra outs. We did that today.”

Cruz was involved in a third defensive misfire during the bottom of the sixth.

Xander Bogaerts hit a chopper in between Hayes at third and Cruz, with Hayes ranging over to his left before abruptly stopping his pursuit.

Cruz fielded the ball without issue but double clutched before firing a fastball over to Tellez at first.

Bogaerts, initially called out, was ruled safe after a Padres challenge.

Hayes and Cruz appeared to discuss the miscommunication shortly thereafter, while reliever Ben Heller soon got out of the inning.

The one bright spot defensively for the Pirates on Tuesday was Ji Hwan Bae in center field, who saved at least three additional runs from scoring thanks to a pair of stellar plays.

Bae bailed out Cruz in the first, making a diving catch on Machado’s fly ball, which, had it fallen for a hit, would have likely scored two.

“Bae made a really nice play on that ball – a really nice catch,” Shelton said.

Ji Hwan Bae with the diving catch pic.twitter.com/lnIAiOJX5u

— Platinum Ke’Bryan (@PlatinumKey13) August 14, 2024

Later, in the sixth, Bae tracked down a deep fly ball off the bat of Jackson Merrill at the center field warning track, stranding Machado at first base.

Ji Hwan Bae! ???? pic.twitter.com/Y8Q2pcmUgl

— Pittsburgh Pirates (@Pirates) August 14, 2024

Unfortunately for Bae, his solid night in the field did not translate at the plate, as he went 0 for 3 with two strikeouts.