Ashcraft's first MLB win backs up Skenes' latest gem as Bucs sweep Phils

PITTSBURGH -- Consider it baptism by fire, and through the rain.

With the Pittsburgh skies again opening up in what had been a very wet weekend, the pressure was on for Braxton Ashcraft to get the final two outs and complete the Pirates’ first series sweep of the season. Dennis Santana and David Bednar had pitched the first two games – including three of four for Bednar – so manager Don Kelly’s preference was to protect his two usual late-inning arms and see if Ashcraft, the newest hotshot on the pitching staff, could finish the job.

The way Ashcraft composed himself in that ninth inning, one might think he has done this job for four years. In reality, it was just his fourth game in the Majors. Tasked with getting the final four outs of the game, he delivered a sinker to Alec Bohm that was slowly bounced to Nick Gonzales for a tailor-made double play.

Ashcraft let out a roar through the rain, and the Pirates got to celebrate their first three-game winning streak of the season on the field as the grounds crew rushed behind them to get the tarp on the diamond. Through Ashcraft’s strong finish, Paul Skenes’ 7 2/3 innings and an eighth-inning knock by Andrew McCutchen, the Pirates were able to beat the Phillies at PNC Park, 2-1.

For Ashcraft, it also represented his first big league win.

“It was cold,” Ashcraft said with a smile. “It was good. It’s good celebrating wins with these guys.”

After recording the final out of the eighth, Kelly told Ashcraft to “stay locked in” when he made his way back to the dugout. It’s a subtle way of telling a pitcher they have the ninth inning, but that seemingly hasn’t been an issue for Ashcraft, who has yet to flinch in this new role. He was told at the beginning of the season that while the team still views him as a starter long-term, there might be a need, and an opportunity, in the bullpen.

Ashcraft was on MLB Pipeline’s top 100 list a year ago and currently ranks as Pittsburgh’s No. 7 prospect. Players of that pedigree tend to take bullpen jobs rough, but Ashcraft has maintained that his primary goal was to be in the Majors. If that’s where the opportunity is and where he can help the team win, he was on board.

So far, he’s excelled in this new role, tossing 7 1/3 scoreless innings with six strikeouts. He was originally brought in to pitch bulk relief, but outstanding showings early have quickly put him in the mix for leverage spots.

“The trust that DK has in me to go out and get those outs and get them efficiently, it means a lot, and it’s a lot for me to live up to in the situation that I’m in,” Ashcraft said. “So just continue to build off of that. Continue to build off the momentum that we have as a team and I have in myself on the mound.”

Ashcraft always had the stuff that could potentially play out of the bullpen, firing high-90s fastballs and high-spin sliders. These past few weeks, he’s also shown a mentality that echoes those who usually have success in this role.

“To be able to come in in the middle of an inning and go back out for the ninth with the rain coming down, and finding a way to get through that against the top of their order, tremendous job,” Kelly said.

“He's doing what he's supposed to do, what he can do, and it's pretty cool,” Skenes said.

With his 7 2/3 innings and only one unearned run, Skenes lowered his ERA to 1.88 with 92 strikeouts and 56 hits allowed over 91 innings pitched. The only other pitcher in the Modern Era to accomplish that in their first 14 starts of a season was Justin Verlander in 2018.

Kelly showing faith in the rookie after Skenes’ start speaks volumes, but being team-focused, Ashcraft is looking at the bigger picture.

“It’s not just Paul. It’s anybody,” Ashcraft said. “Whether you come in for somebody like Paul, whoever else it might be, it doesn’t really matter. Like I’ve said, our job is to get outs, coming out of the bullpen. Get outs efficiently without any runs scoring.

“It means a lot after somebody puts up a really good outing. He’s done that consistently this year and it means a lot to us as a team to be able to go out and give him that win. Yeah he didn’t get the win, I got the win, but he got it just as much as I did.”