Kris Bubic allowed six hits and three runs, with six strikeouts, over 5 2/3 innings in a no-decision against the Pirates on Wednesday.
It felt like Bubic was well on his way to an easy victory in this one. He cruised through the first five innings, allowing just three hits and retiring eight in a row before the sixth. Then, he allowed the first three batters to reach base in the sixth and all three wound up coming around to score. He had Tommy Pham down 0-2 to start the frame and for some reason threw him a fastball right down the middle which he hit for a single. Bubic’s command was wonky that entire inning, as Ke’Bryan Hayes smacked a sweeper that caught too much of the plate for the game-tying single that wound up chasing the pitcher from the contest. Nevertheless, it’s been a banner first half for the left-hander in his comeback season as he heads into the break with a 2.48 ERA.