If any Pirates starter was going to wreck the momentum, at least temporarily, it seemed destined to be Charlie Morton. He has been pitching poorly and his last performance ended their three-game winning streak.
This time it ended a four-game winning streak. Morton allowed five on six hits in six innings to take the loss against Colorado on Sunday. He walked two and whiffed six.
Morton breezed through the first three without allowing a hit before the roof caved in. He was sent reeling by four straight hits to start the fourth, including a double by Nolan Arenado and triple by Ben Paulsen that resulted in three runs. His own two-base error tallied two more in the sixth.
He has given up 26 runs over his last 54 2/3 innings and has lost four of his last six decisions.