Royals walk it off in 9th vs. Pirates, who drop series, lose 5th straight

Mitch Keller took the mound in Kansas City on Tuesday having recently earned wins in two straight starts for the first time since back-to-back victories June 1 and June 7 of last season.

The Pittsburgh Pirates failing to offer much support behind Keller has defined his season to date, as evidenced by the juxtaposition of his 10 losses (second-most in baseball) and 12 quality starts (tied for fourth most).

Keller provided another quality start against the Kansas City Royals at Kauffman Stadium, but the Pirates fell 4-3 as their losing skid hit five.

Kansas City walked it off in the bottom of the ninth against Isaac Mattson, as Nick Loftin provided the winning RBI single with one out on Mattson’s second pitch.

Maikel Garcia and Salvador Perez had begun the frame with back-to-back singles off Dennis Santana (2-2, 1.60 ERA), who was removed in favor of Mattson and charged with the loss.

An otherwise solid start by Keller was spoiled in the seventh inning when Loftin hit a go-ahead two-run homer.

“Tough spot (for Mattson) to come into there, with Santana going back out in the ninth inning there,” manager Don Kelly said on the SportsNet Pittsburgh postgame show. “Tried to go with Mattson and maybe get a punchout there. Mitch did a heck of a job, threw really really well. Just two tough pitches there cost us.”

In the eighth, shortly after surrendering the lead, the Pirates (38-55) found themselves in prime position to get back in front when Royals reliever Lucas Erceg loaded the bases with one out.

Isiah Kiner-Falefa led off with a single and took second on a pickoff attempt throwing error by Erceg, who then walked Spencer Horwitz and Tommy Pham.

To the plate then came Bryan Reynolds, who came through with a game-tying RBI forceout, scoring Kiner-Falefa.

But with runners still on first and third, Nick Gonzales, who hit a go-ahead solo homer in the seventh, grounded out to complete the inning.

When Loftin entered the batter’s box in the seventh, the Pirates were leading 2-1 after Keller had retired 16 straight batters, with Perez getting aboard because of catcher’s inference on Henry Davis.

That proved costly, as Loftin took Keller deep to put Kansas City ahead 3-2.

In the top of the seventh, Gonzales put the Pirates ahead by a run with a solo home run off Seth Lugo, who was sharp over six innings but exited the game after giving up the lead.

Keller (3-10, 3.58 ERA) lasted 6⅔ innings, giving up three runs on four hits and striking out five with one walk.

“Just two pitches I’d love to have back tonight,” Keller said of his outing and two home runs allowed. “Hanging changeup and just a hanging slider – unfortunate timing for both of them.”

After the Pirates wasted a first-inning double by the red-hot Pham, Kansas City went up 1-0 in the second, courtesy of a solo homer by Jac Caglianone.

The Pirates tied things up in the fourth when Oneil Cruz jacked his 16th home run of the year, a towering 458-foot shot off Lugo, hours after being announced as a Home Run Derby participant.

Cruz’s home run snapped an 0-for-14 slump.

Keller managed to work out of a jam in the first, striking out Perez with runners on the corners, while the Royals erased Davis following a double in the fifth when he was gunned down trying to steal third.

Gonzales spoiled Lugo’s evening in the seventh, leading off with a solo home run to center field to put the Pirates up 2-1, with Kansas City making a pitching change soon after, as Angel Zerpa took over with one out in the frame.

After Kelly removed Keller in the seventh, Caleb Ferguson came on and recorded the inning’s final out.

With the score tied at three in the eighth, the Pirates turned to Santana, who pitched a clean eighth before returning for the ninth.

No Pirate recorded more than one hit in the loss, with the team collecting only six on the night.

Pham (1 for 3, walk) and Kiner-Falefa (1 for 2, walk) were the only players who reached base multiple times.

“We were able to battle back, but just a tough loss,” Kelly said.