The Pittsburgh Pirates hit a rough patch on Tuesday night, falling 9-0 to the Arizona Diamondbacks on the road—a shutout that left the team's offense searching for answers. For a squad looking to build momentum early in the season, this performance was a tough pill to swallow.

Facing Diamondbacks left-hander Eduardo Rodriguez, the Pirates' bats went cold. Rodriguez was sharp all night, tossing seven innings while allowing just two hits and striking out seven. His ability to mix pitches kept Pittsburgh off balance, and third baseman Jared Triolo didn't hold back on the frustration.

"It's frustrating because he's throwing three or four different pitches, all competitive," Triolo said after the game. "He could throw them in any count." That unpredictability made it nearly impossible for the Pirates to settle in at the plate.

This marks the third time this season Pittsburgh has been shut out, and acting manager Kris Negron—filling in for Don Kelly, who served a one-game suspension—gave credit where it was due. "Rodriguez filled up the zone," Negron explained. "He was pounding in first-pitch strikes, working ahead, and staying out of the middle. We're trying not to chase, but when he's living on the edges and working ahead, it makes our job a little bit tougher."

The 9-0 loss drops the Pirates to 19-17 on the season, putting them on the wrong side of the series opener against Arizona. But there's reason for optimism heading into Wednesday's matchup. Pittsburgh will send ace Paul Skenes to the mound, looking to even the series and get back on track. First pitch is set for 9:40 p.m. ET—a prime opportunity for the Pirates to shake off Tuesday's struggles and show what their offense can really do.