Pirates searching for answers to reverse slumping offense after no-hitter, 2 shutouts

Over the past three games, the Pittsburgh Pirates have found themselves in an unfathomable offensive funk where they have been no-hit once and shut out twice — against two teams sitting below them in NL Central standings.

The struggles at the plate actually have stretched longer than a week. Since their 5-1 win over the Los Angeles Dodgers on May 9, the Pirates have been outscored 43-12 in eight games — a pace of 1.5 runs per game — and are averaging only 4.5 hits going into Wednesday’s series finale at the Chicago Cubs.

Pirates manager Derek Shelton is searching for answers to end the slump after his team has fallen behind early and couldn’t muster any offense for a comeback. The Cubs scored eight runs in the first inning of Monday’s 9-0 win and scored five in the fourth inning of Tuesday’s 7-0 win.

“We have to find ways to create scoring opportunities. That’s the thing,” Shelton said. “We got down the last two days big and, really, we can’t even do anything because of the fact that we’re down. We’ve got to figure out how to have better at-bats, and we’ve got to figure a way to get scoring opportunities. We’ve got to get some guys going. We have some guys that have not gotten going yet, and we need to start to go.”

It didn’t help that they played without third baseman Ke’Bryan Hayes, who got the day off after his batting average dipped from .324 to .293 while enduring an 0-for-11 spell over three games.

The Pirates had four players in their starting lineup batting below the Mendoza Line — rookie right fielder Jack Suwinski (.186), first baseman Yoshi Tsutsugo (.174), second baseman Josh VanMeter (.172) and catcher Michael Perez (.130) — while All-Star center fielder Bryan Reynolds is hovering just above at .205.

After slashing .302/.390/.522 with 35 doubles, eight triples, 24 home runs and 90 RBIs last season, Reynolds has started slowly this season. He was hitless in 20 at-bats before getting a single in the first inning Tuesday against the Cubs, only to get caught stealing as Ben Gamel struck out. Tsutsugo signed a one-year, $4 million contract after hitting eight doubles and eight homers in 43 games upon joining the Pirates in August last season. He has two doubles and one homer after 29 games this year.

Shelton didn’t panic when asked about Reynolds’ and Tsutsugo’s struggles, though he emphasized the need to get them on track.

“We’re still early in the season,” Shelton said. “There’s a lot of time left. It is important that we get guys going.”

The past three games have magnified the Pirates’ shortcomings at the plate. Cincinnati Reds pitchers Hunter Greene and Art Warren combined to toss eight hitless innings in a 1-0 loss Sunday at PNC Park, and the Cubs blanked the Pirates in back-to-back games at Wrigley Field.

The Pirates failed to capitalize Tuesday night when Michael Chavis doubled in the second, as rookie Rodolfo Castro grounded out, and when designated hitter Daniel Vogelbach hit his first career triple in the fourth inning. He was thrown out at the plate on a Tsutsugo fly ball to right.

“I think it’s a little bit of everything,” Vogelbach said. “Obviously, there’s some unlucky in there. In the last inning, we hit some balls hard (for outs). It’s baseball. Baseball’s not easy. Hitting’s not easy. We’ve got to keep working at it, come in every day ready to go.”

Vogelbach has brought some pop to the Pirates to match his optimistic approach and is one of their more productive hitters at .255 with an .830 OPS and five doubles, six home runs and 13 RBIs. Outfielder Ben Gamel was riding a hot streak for three weeks, slashing .367/.424/.583 with five doubles, a triple, two homers and 10 RBIs in 17 games from April 24-May 13 but is 0 for 14 with one walk over the past four games.

“We’re going through a little stretch right here. All it takes is a week of a hot stretch, and we get right back on track,” Vogelbach said. “Tough times suck. Losing sucks. Not playing well sucks. But the game doesn’t feel sorry for you. We’ve got to keep bringing it back every day, and we’ve got to be the reason that it turns.”