Pirates fall to Diamondbacks 1-0 on July 26, 2025, wasting a gem from Mike Burrows. See how one hit sealed the extra-inning loss for Pittsburgh at PNC Park.
StatPro MLB Beat Reporter
It's a story Pirates fans know all too well. A brilliant, gutsy performance on the mound completely squandered by an offense that went missing in action. That was the painful script on Saturday at PNC Park, as the Bucs fell 1-0 to the Arizona Diamondbacks in 11 agonizing innings, managing just a single, solitary hit all game.
The Pirates' offense managed just one hit against Ryne Nelson and two Arizona relievers.
Rookie Mike Burrows delivered the best outing of his young career, giving the 21,296 fans in attendance a glimpse of the future. But it wasn't enough. The offense was completely stifled by Ryne Nelson and the D-backs' bullpen, failing to mount any semblance of a threat. The game remained a scoreless stalemate until the 11th inning, when a sacrifice fly by Eugenio Suárez finally broke the tie, handing reliever Braxton Ashcraft a tough-luck loss and dropping the Pirates to 42-62 on the season.
While the loss stings, the frustration at the major league level is contrasted by the continued success of the farm system. Top prospect Bubba Chandler is dominating at Triple-A Indianapolis, posting a sparkling 2.17 ERA with 56 strikeouts in just 37.1 innings. With five prospects ranked in MLB Pipeline’s Top 100, the pipeline of talent is strong. It remains the biggest reason for optimism for a fanbase desperate for a winning team.
The immediate future, however, revolves around the July 30th trade deadline. All eyes will now turn to Andrew Heaney's scheduled start, which is widely expected to be his final appearance for the Pirates. The veteran lefty has struggled immensely, posting a 10.65 ERA over his last six outings, and represents the type of veteran the front office is looking to move. His start is less about winning a game for the Pirates and more about auditioning for a spot on a contending team.
Saturday was a microcosm of the 2025 Pirates season: a frustrating loss defined by strong pitching and no hitting, a glimmer of hope from the farm system, and the ever-present cloud of the trade deadline. As the team prepares for Andrew Heaney's likely final start, fans are left to wonder which veterans will be gone by July 30th and how soon the talent from Indianapolis will arrive to change the narrative at PNC Park.
