Pirates ace Gerrit Cole didn't fit the mold of an ace during Wednesday's loss to the Reds.
Cole got rocked for five runs on eight hits in just 4 2/3 innings. He walked three batters and allowed a two-run home run before being pulled from the game.
"I didn't bring out a good delivery. Stuff was a little flat. Didn't make pitches when I needed to make pitches in the first," Cole said, per MLB.com. "Obviously it's frustrating that I couldn't go deeper into the game."
Cole picked up his third loss of the season, making him 11-3. He has a 2.16 ERA with 102 strikeouts and 25 walks in 95 2/3 innings this year.