PITTSBURGH — This season was supposed to be about the Pirates employing a left-handed hitter with a pretty and powerful swing, one capable of crushing homers and sending the PNC Park crowd home happy. Shoot, this homestead was supposed to be about that stuff.
But while the fan waits and stirs and pants over the imminent arrival of Oneil Cruz, it’s probably best to stop and appreciate the prize the Pirates seemed to have found along the way: Jack Suwinski has been really good and might legitimately contend for the National League Rookie of the Year Award.
With the Pirates looking to salvage a game from the San Francisco Giants on Father’s Day, Suwinski hit a pair of solo homers for the first multi-homer effort of his career and the first for Pittsburgh this season. The loud swings combined with another strong start from Mitch Keller to drive a 4-3 walkoff victory on a sun-splashed Sunday.
