Mitch Keller dominant as Pirates take 4-game series from Nationals

Thursday’s series finale at PNC Park between the Pittsburgh Pirates and Washington Nationals featured an interesting pitching duel between Mitch Keller and Josiah Gray.

Keller and Gray both were first-time All-Stars earlier this year, but since the end of July, the two starters had seen their 2023 campaigns derail to an extent.

As the game went on, they lived up to their All-Star reputations, with Gray looking sharp and Keller displaying dominance, helping the Pirates to a 2-0 victory to take three of four games from Washington.

Keller (12-9, 4.04 ERA) picked up the win, turning in eight scoreless innings, allowing two hits and a walk while striking out seven.

Offensively, the Pirates (69-78) were propelled by a pair of solo homers from Jack Suwinski in the second and Alfonso Rivas in the fifth.

“That was incredible,” Suwinski said of Keller’s start. “Just being able to stand behind him and watch him at his best, executing, getting outs and throwing the ball by guys — that’s who he is. He’s a dominant pitcher. It was really impressive.”

For his part, Gray (7-12, 4.07 ERA) gave up five hits, including the two homers, while striking out 10 and walking none.

“I thought Gray was pretty good today,” Pirates manager Derek Shelton said. “The slider was pretty effective.”

In a game that featured both clubs going a collective 7 of 57 (.122) at the plate, Suwinski was the lone player on either team to record a multi-hit afternoon, finishing 2 of 3 with his second-inning solo shot and a leadoff single in the seventh.

Keller escaped an early no-out jam in the top of the first, when CJ Abrams singled to left field on the first pitch of the game, followed by Lane Thomas reaching base on an error by shortstop Liover Peguero, spoiling a double-play try.

But Keller recovered, picking off Abrams at second in the process, to get out of the inning unscathed.

From there, he allowed just two more baserunners: a single in the third to Jake Alu and a seventh-inning walk to Joey Meneses.

Keller threw 92 pitches and, following a quick eighth inning, Shelton opted to turn to David Bednar in the ninth, who went on to earn his 35th save of the season.

“There were a couple things that came into play,” Shelton said of yanking Keller. “When he went out in the eighth, the first two pitches he threw were like 91-92 (mph). … If he comes out and he’s (throwing) 95 (mph) there, then we’re having a different conversation. But he was at 91-92 and going down and talking to him, I was like, ‘All right, let’s get Dave in the game.’”

Keller leaned heavily on his fastballs Thursday. Per Statcast, he threw his four-seamer, cutter and sinker for a combined 70% of the afternoon, turning less frequently to the changeup and curveball.

But the attack plan of Keller and catcher Jason Delay worked. Combined with Gray’s efficient outing, it resulted in a game that lasted only 1 hour, 50 minutes, the shortest of the year for the Pirates.

“Using the cutter to lefties was huge,” Keller said. “Using the sinker and the four-seam to righties set up the sweeper. We were able to mix things and keep a good attack plan. Mixed in the curveball again today, used some changeup there, too, which was really good to see. (Delay) did a great job picking spots to call them. They were really successful pitches.”

Thursday’s sub-two-hour game was the second such the Pirates have played in 2023.

The other, which lasted 1:55, came May 8 against Colorado.

Keller was also on the mound that day and threw a shutout in a 2-0 win.