PITTSBURGH — Not a drop of rain fell on the PNC Park grass, but much of what transpired Monday on the North Shore could’ve been described by a series of short bursts, exciting bits of action that ultimately defined the Pirates’ 6-4 series-opening victory against the red-hot Texas Rangers.
There was the bang-bang slide by Bryan Reynolds in the seventh inning, the Pirates outfielder nudging the edge of his cleat forward to touch home plate on a throw home from Texas right fielder Adolis Garcia to push his team in front by a run.
Two batters later, Tucupita Marcano took his turn by walloping a 2-2 slider to center field, a 419-foot blast that belied Marcano’s slight frame. With one swing, Marcano sent a ball screaming toward the stands for the Pirates’ second grand slam of the season, allowing everyone here to breathe a little easier.
Meanwhile, Luis Ortiz — in authoring a gem that netted his first MLB win — worked quickly the entire night, pounding the strike zone and forcing Texas’ talented hitters to put the ball in play. It worked to Ortiz’s benefit and quelled an offense that has really been clicking.
After growing frustrated with himself last week in Detroit, inconsistencies in Ortiz’s delivery leading to a drop in velocity and sporadic control, the right-hander shined in this one, delivering 7 2/3 innings of two-run ball, walking two and striking out four.
Is this the last one before Vince Velasquez comes back? Tough to say. But if it is, Ortiz certainly gave the Pirates plenty to ponder.
It was even more impressive when you consider how good the Rangers have been of late.
Over the past 21 games, Texas was an American League-best 15-6 heading into Monday’s series-opener. Twelve times this season the Rangers had erupted for double-digit runs, most in the sport.
But after making some mechanical adjustments and further diversifying his pitch mix, Ortiz was up to the challenge.
The 24-year-old right-hander notched his first two strikeouts with changeups, the pitch he worked to improve over the winter. In the second, Ke’Bryan Hayes helped to wipe out a leadoff single by turning a terrific — and athletic — double play by stepping on second base and making the throw to first.
Ortiz got shortstop Corey Seager to end the third on a sharp slider. It’s the same pitch he used to close the fourth, burying one down low that third baseman Josh Jung swung through.
With the teams tied at 1 in the seventh inning, the Pirates put together a two-out rally behind a Reynolds single and Jack Suwinski’s four-pitch walk. Carlos Santana followed with a single to center, and Reynolds was initially called out. Video review reversed it.
Marcano, who had a four-game hitting streak snapped Sunday and has started to really do something productive with his shortstop reps, mashed a 2-2 slider atop the zone, flashing considerable power.
After Pirates pitchers were responsible for five wild pitches on Sunday, another one helped the Rangers tie the game at 1 in the sixth inning.
Center fielder Leody Taveras led off with a single, moved to second on a wild pitch — a slider that bounced — advanced to third on a fly ball to center and scored on Seager’s sacrifice fly to left.
ON THE MOUND
Ortiz was incredibly efficient through seven innings, pounding the zone and recording a bunch of quick outs. His command did waver some in the eighth, when he issued a pair of walks to start.
Second baseman Marcus Semien singled home a run before manager Derek Shelton turned to Colin Holderman, who struck out Seager a third time to end the inning.
The 7 2/3 innings were the most for a Pirates rookie since Trevor Williams worked eight innings on Aug. 23, 2017 against the Dodgers. The 93 pitches (59 strikes) Ortiz threw also represented a career-high.
David Bednar allowed a two-run homer to Jung in the ninth.
AT THE PLATE
With his single in the first inning, the milestones continued to roll for Andrew McCutchen, who picked up his 1,500 career hit as a member of the Pirates. He’s now the 12th player to reach that milestone.
Furthermore, the single extended McCutchen’s on-base streak to 12 games, during which he’s batting 14 for 42 (.333) with a home run, four RBIs and seven walks.
McCutchen (who added a single in the eighth) is the only player in Pirates history with 1,500 hits, 200 homers and 100 stolen bases.
The Pirates scored their first run in the second inning when Hayes led off with a double and scored on Connor Joe’s ground ball to short. It was an outstanding swing from Hayes, too, as he pulled an elevated slider into left field.
UP NEXT
Rich Hill will opposite good friend and former teammate Nathan Eovaldi. Hill has allowed one home run in his last five starts after giving up seven in his first four.
