Rays Drop Rubber Match as Keller Impresses

Rays 3, Pirates 6

Apr. 20, 2026 at 2:09am

Got story updates? Submit your updates here. ›

A fractured, multi-perspective painting depicting a baseball game, with the players and field broken down into sharp, overlapping geometric shapes in muted tones of navy, forest green, and burnt orange.A cubist interpretation of the competitive battle between the Rays and Pirates, with the game's action fragmented into an abstract geometric composition.Today in Pittsburgh

Despite a strong outing from Shane McClanahan, the Tampa Bay Rays fell to the Pittsburgh Pirates 6-3 in the series finale. McClanahan pitched well, striking out five and avoiding walks, but the Pirates offense broke through late to secure the victory. The Rays offense was held in check for much of the game before a late solo home run by Junior, but it wasn't enough to overcome the Pirates' lead.

Why it matters

The loss drops the Rays to 12-9 on the season, a half-game behind the first-place Yankees in the AL East. While the Rays still had a successful 4-2 road trip, this defeat represents a missed opportunity to gain ground in the division race. The performance of McClanahan, however, is an encouraging sign for the Rays' depleted rotation moving forward.

The details

McClanahan was sharp early, working out of jams in the first, third, and fourth innings. The Rays offense finally broke through against Pirates starter Mitch Keller in the fifth, with Richcie Palacios and Feduccia delivering RBI singles to give the Rays a 2-1 lead. But the Pirates answered in the bottom half of the inning, scoring three runs to take a 4-2 lead and chase McClanahan from the game. The Pirates added two more runs late to secure the victory.

  • In the bottom of the first inning, former Rays outfielder Jake Mangum led off with a double.
  • In the bottom of the fifth inning, the Pirates scored three runs to take a 4-2 lead.
  • In the top of the ninth inning, Junior hit a solo home run to make the final score 6-3 Pirates.

The players

Shane McClanahan

The Rays starting pitcher, who allowed four runs over 4.1 innings but struck out five without issuing a walk, continuing his upward trajectory this season.

Mitch Keller

The Pirates starting pitcher, who held the Rays offense in check for much of the game before the Rays broke through in the fifth inning.

Jake Mangum

A former Rays outfielder who had a big game for the Pirates, reaching base three times and scoring a run.

Junior

The Rays outfielder who hit a solo home run in the ninth inning to provide the final margin.

Richcie Palacios

The Rays outfielder who delivered an RBI double in the fifth inning to give the Rays a short-lived lead.

Got photos? Submit your photos here. ›

What they’re saying

“Yes, he surrendered four runs over four and a third innings, allowing eight hits in the process. However, that was the sharpest the southpaw has looked in three years. For the first time this season he walked none. He also struck out five and consistently made quality pitches under duress.”

— Austin Reimann, Author

“While we all would have loved to see the Rays come away with a third consecutive series win and a 5-1 road trip, I'll settle for a 4-2 road trip and another significant step forward for Mac on the bump. His continued upward trajectory bodes well for this team and its depleted rotation.”

— Austin Reimann, Author

What’s next

The Rays will welcome the Cincinnati Reds to Tropicana Field for a three-game series starting on Monday night.

The takeaway

Despite the loss, the Rays can take some positives from McClanahan's strong outing as they look to maintain their position atop the AL East. The offense will need to rebound against the Reds to get back on track and keep pace with the division-leading Yankees.