Cole allows two runs in seven innings but Pirates drop fourth straight

Pedro Alvarez (.250-23HR-58RBI) belted his 23rd home run of the season and Gerrit Cole (4-2, 3.68 ERA) allowed two runs in seven innings, but it wasn’t enough for the Pirates (53-36) who dropped their fourth straight game, losing to the Oakland A’s 2-1 on Tuesday night at PNC Park.

Brandon Moss two-run homer in the fourth inning off Cole was the difference in the game as the A’s improved to 11-0 all-time in Pittsburgh. Moss who was a disaster during his two in a half years in the Pirates organization, hit 21 home runs in 2012 for the A’s and now has 16 home runs and 44 RBIs this season.

Cole went seven innings, allowing five hits and two runs, while striking out four and walking two. “He got into seven innings. Pitch count after seven is 90. It’s a very, very good outing for Gerrit tonight,” Manager Clint Hurdle said.

Offensively the Pirates continue to struggle to score but Alvarez was a bright spot once again with a monster shot in the second inning and has hit safely in 19 of 21 games. “He’s continuing to grow as a power hitter,” Hurdle said.

The Pirates on a four game losing streak, have now lost six of eight games. Is it panic time?

“We’re doing all the work and we’re not getting the results,” Hurdle said. “When you don’t score runs, everything is magnified in baseball. Pitchers we’ve faced last two games have been very sharp.”