Mike Burrows shines for the Pirates, but the bats go silent in a 1-0 extra-inning loss to the Diamondbacks on July 26. Read how a brilliant gem was wasted.
StatPro MLB Beat Reporter
It was a night that perfectly encapsulated the frustration and the hope of being a Pirates fan. At PNC Park, we witnessed a star-making performance from right-hander Mike Burrows, who delivered a career-best outing against the Diamondbacks. Yet, that brilliance was tragically overshadowed by an offense that went completely missing in action, culminating in a soul-crushing 1-0 loss in 11 innings.
'Mike gave us everything we could ask for. He was outstanding.'
For six masterful innings, Mike Burrows owned the mound. The recently recalled righty carved up the Arizona lineup, setting a new career high with six shutout frames, allowing just three hits while striking out seven. On the other side, Diamondbacks starter Ryne Nelson and his bullpen were nearly untouchable. The Pirates' bats were silenced all night, their only spark coming from a lone Bryan Reynolds single in the fourth inning. The game remained a tense 0-0 stalemate deep into extras until the 11th, when Lourdes Gurriel Jr. finally broke the deadlock with a single that scored the automatic runner, handing reliever Colin Holderman a tough-luck loss.
Despite the final score, the biggest takeaway from Saturday has to be the performance of Mike Burrows. Showing improved command and velocity, he looked every bit the part of a future rotation staple. It was a gutsy, confident outing that had fans and the dugout buzzing. The praise was universal, with the team's social media celebrating his 'career night' and fans echoing the sentiment. He didn't get the win, but he certainly won over a lot of hearts.
You can't win if you don't score, and the Pirates' offense was historically futile on Saturday. The one-hit performance over 11 innings was painful to watch, punctuated by 13 strikeouts. Key bats like Andrew McCutchen and Oneil Cruz went a combined 0-for-8. The 11 scoreless innings marked a new season-high for offensive futility in a single game and continued a worrying trend, as it was the team's third straight loss in extra innings. The pitching is showing up; the lineup needs to follow suit.
While the drama unfolded on the field, the front office remained quiet. No trades or transactions were announced, but with the July 31 deadline just days away, nights like this force management's hand. Do they add a bat? Do they trust the current group to find its form? Meanwhile, the farm system remains a beacon of hope. Though quiet Saturday, top overall prospect Konnor Griffin continues to tear it up in the minors, a reminder of the talent pipeline that could one day provide the offensive firepower the big league club so desperately needed tonight.
This loss stings, there's no way around it. Wasting a gem like the one Mike Burrows threw is a tough pill to swallow. But as the Pirates look to bounce back, they do so with the knowledge that another potential rotation anchor has emerged. The challenge now is for the offense to wake from its slumber and provide the support this pitching staff deserves. With the trade deadline looming, the next few days will be critical in shaping the direction of the rest of the 2025 season.
