Bubba Chandler showed exactly why the Pirates continue to believe in his long-term potential, even if the final score did not go Pittsburgh’s way.
The rookie right-hander turned in his most polished performance of the season, limiting the Yankees to just two hits over 6 1/3 innings while striking out five. Although New York eventually claimed a 2-0 victory in the second game of a doubleheader, Chandler’s outing stood out as a major positive for Pittsburgh.
The night did not begin smoothly. Chandler struggled to locate his pitches in the opening innings and had to work through early traffic on the bases. Once he found his rhythm, however, the 23-year-old settled into a groove, consistently attacking hitters and keeping one of baseball’s most dangerous lineups off the scoreboard.
With Chandler approaching the end of his workload after not pitching for 10 days because of the All-Star break, manager Don Kelly made the decision to turn the game over to the bullpen in the seventh inning. The move quickly proved costly as the Yankees broke the scoreless tie with consecutive run-scoring hits, providing all the offense they would need.
Despite the loss, Chandler viewed the outing as an encouraging step forward. After dealing with command issues for much of the season, he demonstrated improved composure and execution once he corrected his mechanics during the middle innings.
The performance carried added significance because it came exactly five years after Chandler signed his first professional contract with Pittsburgh. It also gave him the opportunity to oppose Max Fried, a pitcher he admired while growing up. Fried was equally impressive, tossing five scoreless innings in his return from the injured list as the Yankees earned a split of the day-night doubleheader.
For the Pirates, the result was disappointing. For Chandler, it was another reminder that his electric talent is beginning to translate into consistent major league performances.
