PITTSBURGH — Since fully embracing the youth movement earlier this week, the Pirates have certainly experienced their fair share of growing pains in a small sample size.
On Wednesday, manager Derek Shelton got contributions from veterans and rookies alike in a game-saving seventh inning rally as the Pirates stormed back to beat the Guardians 7-5 Wednesday afternoon at PNC Park.
Before the bottom of the seventh, the Pirates appeared to be on the verge of dropping their sixth straight coming out of the All-Star break. A loss would’ve marked the first time this year they’d fallen in every game in a multi-series stretch at home this year.
Instead, the Pirates batted around in the seventh to erase a 4-2 deficit. Nick Gonzales walked with one away and fellow rookie Endy Rodriguez came off the bench to flare a single to center, good for his first career MLB hit after striking out six times in his first seven big-league at-bats.
The lineup then turned over to the more veteran-laden top, with Connor Joe reaching on an infield single and Bryan Reynolds running out what had the makings of a textbook 6-4-3 double play to plate one. With the inning still going a couple batters later, a healthy Ji-man Choi smoked a two-out single to right, pushing the Pirates out in front 5-4.
Rookie Jared Triolo, who had already singled earlier in the game to push his hitting streak to 12 games, did so again with a two-RBI knock to left to give the Pirates a comfortable 7-4 lead that the Guardians could only trim by one run.
The offensive output in the seventh was in stark contrast to that of the first two games of the series, contests in which the Pirates were outscored 21-1 in back-to-back lopsided defeats. Since the break for the midsummer classic, the Pirates’ offense in general had been dormant, averaging just two runs per game.
Thanks to that seventh inning that showcased what the Pirates are capable of when operating at full capacity, though, the home squad was able to avoid flying to the West Coast with the sting of a six-game losing streak. Instead, the Pirates will begin their first road trip of the second half with the good vibes of a coveted win reverberating throughout the team plane.
ON THE MOUND
Rich Hill was quite effective the first time through the Guardians’ order, but the second turn proved problematic for the left-hander.
The Guardians tagged him for a run in the fourth thanks to some small ball, with Andres Gimenez laying down a beautiful safety squeeze to drive in the game’s first run. Cleveland really got to work in the fifth, courtesy of an RBI double by Amed Rosario that drove in a pair en route to what became a comfortable 4-0 lead for the Guardians
Each of Hill’s pitches were up on their yearly velocity averages, but the Guardians certainly had their timing down. Hill only recorded one strikeout, his fewest since failing to punch out any Astros in an April 12 start. Of the 52 swings Guardians players took on the afternoon, only three were whiffs, per Baseball Savant.
AT THE PLATE
Triolo’s 12-game hitting streak is the longest of any Pirates player this season, passing the 11-game stretch Reynolds produced from April 22 to May 6. Among MLB players, Triolo’s active 12-game hitting streak is second only to the Boston Red Sox’ Justin Turner’s 14-game run.
Despite only playing in 17 games this year, Triolo has made an immediate impact at the hot corner in Ke’Bryan Hayes’ absence due to a lower back injury, providing above-average defense to complement a steady bat.
Though he hasn’t demonstrated much power, Triolo has found holes in the outfield and infield whenever he’s put the ball in play. After going 2 for 4 on Wednesday, Triolo is hitting .311 with nine RBIs on the year.
UP NEXT
The Pirates have an off day Thursday in Anaheim before a three-game set against the Angels to commence another West Coast road trip. Johan Oviedo will start opposite Shohei Ohtani for Friday night’s contest, marking the first time the Los Angeles Angels’ superstar has ever pitched against the Pirates.
