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Pirates Struggle After Tough Opening Series Against Marlins

The 2025 season for the Pittsburgh Pirates began with unfortunate circumstances, as the team faced a difficult series against the Miami Marlins. The Pirates concluded the four-game series with a disappointing 1-3 record, but the games were far more competitive than what the record might suggest.

All three setbacks for Pittsburgh came in the most dramatic of fashion — by way of walk-offs from the Marlins. A particularly notable event occurred during Sunday’s game when Marlins outfielder Griffin Conine tied the contest with a solo home run in the seventh inning. The victory was sealed when Derek Hill scored the game-winning run on a wild pitch, amplifying the heartbreak for Pirates fans.

According to the Elias Sports Bureau, this season marks the first time since 1924 that a team has lost its first three games in walk-off fashion, a noteworthy statistic that highlights the intensity of these games. The last team that experienced a similar fate was the Pirates themselves in 1924, a year in which they eventually triumphed with 90 wins and went on to clinch the World Series title in 1925.

Pirates manager Derek Shelton acknowledged the challenges his team faced, emphasizing the need for improvement: “It’s challenging. We’ve got some things to work on,” he stated. His comments come in light of the Pirates’ opening-day loss, where Miami spoiled Paul Skenes’ start as Nick Forbes opened the ninth inning with a triple, leading to a game-winning run by Kyle Stowers.

On Saturday, the Pirates faced another close defeat as Dane Myers delivered a walk-off single in the 12th inning, further complicating the Pirates’ early season struggles. Myers not only contributed with a key hit but also showcased his defensive skills by throwing out Tommy Pham at home plate earlier in the inning.

Pirates reliever David Bednar found himself in a tough position, suffering two of the three walk-off losses during this series. Andrew McCutchen, a veteran presence in the Pirates’ locker room, addressed these challenges by urging his teammates to focus on the fundamentals. “Lock it in and do the small things right. This is the outcome when you don’t do that,” he advised, stressing the necessity for execution in crucial moments.

Looking forward, the Pirates will begin a three-game series against the Tampa Bay Rays on Monday, aiming to turn around their early season fortunes.

In an additional context, the Marlins have now made history by winning their first three games through walk-offs, marking the first instance of such an occurrence since 2003. This statistic adds another layer of significance to the Marlins’ historic start, showcasing the competitive nature of the early baseball season.

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