PITTSBURGH — It’s only eight games into the season, but the Pirates have already enjoyed a crash course on what’s possible when you get competent pitching. And it doesn’t matter how it comes. Just keeping the other team remotely in check allows the offense to do its thing.
Oh, and some sparkling defense doesn’t hurt, either.
Those ingredients comprised the Pirates’ 6-4 victory over the Nationals on a chilly Saturday night at PNC Park, the pitching giving everything else a chance to work and the bats figuring enough out to have another enjoyable game at the plate.
Michael Chavis, who had not played the previous three games since starting the home opener and collecting three hits (including a grand slam) last Sunday in St. Louis, led the way with three hits, including a triple, an RBI and a run scored. Andrew Knapp, meanwhile, drove in a pair of runs, while Ke’Bryan Hayes racked up two more hits.
On the mound, it might be best to work backward. Chris Stratton had some bad luck and coughed up two in the ninth. Before that, David Bednar relieved Dillon Peters with one out in the seventh and 3-4-5 in Washington’s lineup looming. Bednar got five outs, froze outfielder Lane Thomas for a called strike three and bridged the gap to Stratton.
Peters, meanwhile, gave the Pirates two innings of scoreless and hitless relief, backing up starter Bryse Wilson. The left-hander again looked to be comfortable in his piggyback or bulk role, his velocity ticking up and his change-up even more deceptive than usual. Peters now has two of the Pirates’ four wins.
Wilson gave up two earned runs over 4 1/3 innings, walking three and striking out two.
Down to one available catcher thanks to the left quad contusion that kept Roberto Perez (day-to-day) out of the lineup Saturday, it didn’t take long for that position to become a storyline in this one, with the Pirates surviving a scare in the top of the first inning after Josh Bell clipped Knapp’s left hand.
The call was catcher’s inference. Knapp’s glove went flying, and he grabbed his left hand. Fortunately for the Pirates, Knapp was able to stay in the game.
Washington took a 1-0 lead the next inning when third baseman Maikel Franco stroked a leadoff single and scored on a double into the left-field corner from shortstop Alcides Escobar, who turned around a sinker from Wilson.
Knapp, who had been 0 for 6 as a Pirate, tied the score in the second when he lined a fastball to left for a double. The Pirates jumped in front, 2-1, thanks to a single from the next batter, Cole Tucker, who shot a slider up the middle.
Aside from a ridiculous homer from Nationals star Juan Soto — more on that shortly — the middle innings were defined by exemplary Pirates defense. Ben Gamel got things started with a diving effort to snare a Nelson Cruz liner in the third. Diego Castillo handled a tough hop to close the fourth.
Then to end the next inning, Gamel was full extension, a 10-out-of-10 effort, to take an extra-base hit away from Nationals catcher Keibert Ruiz, hopping to his feet and smacking gloves with Bryan Reynolds to celebrate one of the best catchers in MLB this season.
Not to be outdone, Hayes made a circus grab by reaching into the Pirates dugout to snag a foul pop off the bat of Nationals left fielder Lane Thomas, Wil Crowe picking up the assist by steadying his teammate.
The defensive clinic was interrupted by a violent swing from Soto, who smashed an inside change-up from Wilson. Not only that, the 108.4-mph missile shot through one of the tunnels leading to the concourse beyond right field, bounced and landed in the Allegheny River.
Soto’s homer tied the game at 2, but that didn’t last long. The Pirates got three consecutive singles to open the fifth, and Chavis pushed them in front with a flare to right. Pitching and defense made sure the advantage remained.
Newman day-to-day
One bit of potentially impactful news was broken on the AT&T SportsNet broadcast of Saturday’s game. Kevin Newman, who played Thursday but was out of the lineup on Friday and Saturday, is dealing with a groin injury and is considered day-to-day.
If Newman would have to go on the 10-day injured list, it’s possible the Pirates could consider recalling top prospect Oneil Cruz, who’s currently hitting .250 with a .737 OPS in eight games this season for Class AAA Indianapolis. Cruz plays the position and certainly showed how close he is to the big stage during spring training.
At the same time, it should also be noted that the 20-day window guaranteed to prevent Cruz from reaching a full year of service time in 2022 has not passed. Cruz has also struck out eight times in 32 plate appearances and does not have a home run in those games.
