Sean Gentile

Braxton Ashcraft, solid outing for the Pirates.

Pitches a career high.

Six innings.

Gives up just four hits.

Sure, he walked four.

But only two runs come across the plate in the bottom half of the fourth inning.

Three strikeouts for Braxton Ashcraft.

Sounds like a day that should be a successful one at the ballpark for the club, right?

The Pirates record four hits.

They don't score.

off of Chase Burns, who last season had an ERA of 4.5, who, yeah, in his last start that he made, it was against the Pirates, and pitched five pretty dominant innings.

This time he goes five, strikes out seven, worked around three walks, and beats the Bucs.

The Pirates have started the season 1-3.

The offense, just picking up where it left off last year, averaging three runs per game.

And you know what the real story here is, Austin?

Conor Griffin is not here.

That is one.

That's one.

Andrew McCutcheon did not come off the bench to pinch it for Jared Triolo because he plays for the Texas Rangers.

But wouldn't it have made some sense?