PITTSBURGH — Compile a list of possible reasons for the Pirates to win, and Yoshi Tsutsugo's speed likely isn’t anywhere near the top.
Or on the list at all.
Nevertheless, Tsutsugo beating out a ground ball to second base in the eighth inning was one of the key parts of the Pirates' 2-1 victory over the Colorado Rockies at PNC Park on Monday night.
The Pirates' winning rally started with a single from Ke'Bryan Hayes, one of three hits for him on the night. Hayes then stole second and moved to third when Daniel Vogelbach grounded out to second.
With Tsutsugo chugging full speed down to first, Hayes scored. Tsutsugo beat the throw from second baseman Brendan Rodgers, allowing the run to count. It was technically scored a hit.
Improbable? Absolutely. And not necessarily because Tsutsugo ... well, isn’t fast. The Pirates had also been just 1 for 11 with runners in scoring position until that point.
The lead held up when David Bednar shut down the Rockies in the ninth, helping the Pirates to snap a three-game winning streak and improve to 8-4 in their last 12 games against Colorado. Bednar is now 9 for 9 on save chances.
Though it might ultimately get overshadowed by the outcome, it’s important to note what JT Brubaker did on Monday. Following an outing last week in Chicago where Brubaker struck out a career-high 10, he continues to show he can be counted upon to take the ball every fifth day and give the Pirates (17-24) a chance to win.
Brubaker nearly got through seven innings and allowed only an unearned run — one that would have been prevented had Brubaker made a better throw to second while trying to start a double play. While working 6 2/3 innings, Brubaker allowed five hits and two walks and struck out, his longest outing of the season when it comes to outs recorded.
Despite not having his best slider, Brubaker racked up 23 called strikes/whiffs. Just three balls had an exit velocity of 95 mph or greater.
Given how well he has pitched this season with his new team, it was possible this one could’ve been about Chad Kuhl sticking it to his former team. However, the Pirates were patient against Kuhl, and they also grabbed a 1-0 lead against him two batters into the game.
Hayes got a 2-2 slider on the outer half and drove it 108.1 mph into the right-field corner for a double. The swing was impressive enough by itself but even more so when you consider how good Kuhl’s slider has been. Per Baseball Savant, Kuhl’s slider had a Run Value of -13 entering Monday’s game, the best of any pitch by any pitcher in either league.
The lead held until the top of the fourth, when the Rockies took advantage of a leadoff walk and that error by Brubaker. After fielding a ball hit by second baseman Brendan Rodgers, Brubaker spiked a throw into the outfield, giving Colorado a first-and-third situation with nobody out.
A double-play ball off the bat of center fielder Randal Grichuk tied the game at 1.
It looked like the Pirates were going to jump in front after Josh VanMeter cranked a one-out triple and Rodolfo Castro walked. However, Castro was thrown out trying to steal second base, and Jack Suwinski popped out to third to end the inning.
Pittsburgh had runners on first and second in the fifth, appearing to rally once again, but Bryan Reynolds hit into a double play, the second for him in a three-inning stretch.
A Pirates lead looked extremely possible two innings later when Castro led off with a double and appeared to score on a fielder’s choice. Home-plate umpire Jordan Baker even called Castro safe. However, video review overturned the call.
The play was one of many where Castro seemed to find himself right in the middle of the action. Playing slightly out of position at shortstop, Castro committed an error in the first inning. It also hurt when he was thrown out trying to get to second in the fourth, though it looked like it could’ve been a botched hit and run.
Castro made up for that play with a remarkable, running catch in left field, ending the sixth inning by robbing Rodgers. It was one of two terrific defensive plays for the Pirates against Colorado, the first being a diving stop by VanMeter to close the fourth.
In his first start against his former team, Kuhl wound up tossing 4 1/3 innings, allowing an earned run on five hits with four walks and a strikeout.
