PITTSBURGH — Jack Flaherty survived just three innings.

Flaherty, a right-hander for the Detroit Tigers, didn’t return to the mound for the fourth inning Monday, July 21, against the Pittsburgh Pirates, replaced by left-handed reliever Dietrich Enns, who completed the next 2⅔ innings.

It was another poor start.

The Tigers lost, 3-0, to the Pirates in the first of three games in the series at PNC Park, with Flaherty surrendering all three runs in the second inning as part of his 78-pitch outing.

Not only have the Tigers (60-41) dropped seven of eight games dating to July 7 (with the offense scoring three runs in the past four games, including two shutouts), but they also have a 14-16 record since June 14.

Flaherty has a 4.77 ERA in 20 starts.

For the Pirates, right-hander Paul Skenes — who owns a 1.91 ERA in 21 starts — completed six scoreless innings on three hits and one walks with six strikeouts, throwing 86 pitches.

Skenes sent down the first six batters in a row before Parker Meadows attacked him in the third inning, ripping a curveball into the right-field corner for a double. After that, Matt Vierling increased the pressure with an infield single.

Just like that, the Tigers had runners on first and second with no outs.

It was their best scoring opportunity, but the runners were stranded as Trey Sweeney flew out, Colt Keith grounded into a force out and Gleyber Torres struck out swinging.

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Jack Flaherty struggles again

Flaherty needed 34 pitches to record three outs in the three-run second inning, but he also needed 22 pitches apiece in the first and third innings.

Here’s what the Pirates did: two singles in the first inning, three singles and two walks in the second inning, and one single and one walk in the third inning.

The three runs scored on Spencer Horwitz’s RBI single and Bryan Reynolds’ two-RBI single in the second inning, putting the Pirates ahead 3-0.

Flaherty issued a walk before each of those singles.

The 29-year-old allowed three runs on six hits and three walks with six strikeouts across three innings, throwing 61.5% of his 78 pitches for strikes.

After Flaherty, Enns tossed 2⅔ scoreless innings and right-handed reliever Chase Lee took down 1⅓ scoreless innings to keep the Tigers’ offense within striking distance into the later innings.

But the bats stayed quiet.

A taste of trade deadline

The Pirates are expected to shop closer David Bednar ahead of the July 31 trade deadline.

The Tigers could be interested.

Bednar, a right-handed reliever, entered for the ninth inning to protect a three-run advantage, facing Zach McKinstry, Dillon Dingler, Meadows and Vierling. Although Dingler hit a single, the other three batters were retired.

He has 14 saves in 14 opportunities.

Contact Evan Petzold at [email protected] or follow him @EvanPetzold.

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