DENVER — The Pirates totaled a pair of touchdowns during their 14-3 victory against the Colorado Rockies on Monday at Coors Field. They also collected 16 hits, an offensive onslaught where every starter — except poor Connor Joe, who was playing in his former park — had at least one. Eight of the nine starters scored runs. Seven had RBIs.
Yet the surest sign of the Pirates’ progress came on a ball that was hit just 89.6 mph, a bouncer to shortstop off the bat of 37-year-old cleanup hitter Carlos Santana.
Had Santana, who probably could have used a chest protector or some bubble wrap in St. Louis, jogged down to first, nobody would’ve blamed him. Only the well-respected veteran did the exact opposite — he sprinted. Beating out the double play netted the Pirates an extra run. Bigger than that, it continued to set a tone.
