After two of his worst starts of the season, Mitch Keller held Texas to just three single hits over seven-plus innings and led the Pittsburgh Pirates to a 4-0 win over the Rangers on Tuesday night.
Keller (11-7) struck out nine batters, tying a season high, and walked none over 98 pitches as the Pirates earned their fourth win in their last six games after a season-long 10-game losing streak.
He left the game after allowing a leadoff single to Josh Jean in the eighth inning, a two-out single down the stretch to Josh Smith in the fourth inning, and a leadoff single to Carson Kelly in the sixth inning.
Keller gave up 15 runs over his previous nine innings in an 8-2 loss to San Diego last Wednesday and a 9-5 loss to the Los Angeles Dodgers on Aug. 9. He is winless since July 8.
“Obviously, we’re just trying to ruin the game. The last two games, obviously, weren’t good,” Keller said, “but we’ve got to literally and figuratively wash it off and go into the next game. It’s a new week. It’s a new game. We’ve got to bring that mentality every time.”
Keller’s effort frustrated Rangers manager Bruce Bochy.
“Hopefully someone will get him on base, but he didn’t get on base,” Bochy said. “We just couldn’t pressure him.”
Aroldis Chapman and David Bednar earned Pittsburgh their eighth shutout win of the year.
Cody Bradford (4-1) tied his career high by allowing five hits and striking out eight in seven innings, but four of those hits came in the fourth inning when the Pirates scored three runs.
Brian De La Cruz brought two home with a looping single to center field, a sliding Leody Taveras hit a short hop homer, and then O’Neill Cruz tripled high over the wall just beyond Adolis Garcia’s leap to score De La Cruz.
The Pirates added one run in the ninth inning when Jon Gray returned from a groin strain injury since July 23 when Jared Triolo singled to pinch hitter Rowdy Tellez.
The Rangers enter Wednesday’s series finale looking to avoid an eighth straight series loss and their sixth shutout loss of the season.
Pirates pitcher Joey Bart was 0-for-4 and sent Taveras to the warning track in the sixth inning, ending his career streak of 16 games with a hit on base.
Pittsburgh ended an eight-game road losing streak.
Keller struck out Garcia and Marcus Semien three times each.
The Rangers have had three hits in each of their past two games. In a 4-3 win over the Pirates on Monday night, Corey Seager had two (both homers), Semien had two and Jonah Heim had one.
Trainer Room
Rangers: Right-hander Tyler Mahl (shoulder tightness) was placed on the 15-day disabled list after throwing 12 2/3 innings over three starts in his return from Tommy John surgery in May 2023…Right-handers Jacob deGrom (Tommy John surgery) and Max Scherzer (arm fatigue) each pitched in the bullpen and are scheduled to make rehab appearances at Double-A Frisco on Thursday and Friday, respectively.
Next
Right-hander Domingo Germán (0-0, 3.00 ERA) will make his fourth appearance for the Pirates on Wednesday and his first start since being promoted from Triple-A Indianapolis on Aug. 9. Rangers left-hander Andrew Heaney (4-13, 4.20 ERA) has the most losses in the major leagues and will be looking for his first win in exactly a month.
