NEW YORK -- Before Wednesday’s action, the Pirates’ offense was anemic. Pittsburgh averaged 2.32 runs per game in 19 contests dating back to April 23 -- by far the worst offense in the Majors during that span.
And one can’t forget what happened to Pittsburgh on Tuesday night at Citi Field, going 0-for-13 with runners in scoring position in a 2-1 loss to the Mets. A day later -- same venue -- the Pirates were better in the batter’s box, using the long ball in a 4-0 victory. Pittsburgh is now 3-3 under new manager Don Kelly.
It rained throughout the game, but it didn’t seem to have a considerable effect on the Pirates. Mets right-hander Clay Holmes, however, was having trouble keeping his hands dry as the rain poured down in the second inning -- and Pittsburgh took advantage. After Isiah Kiner-Falefa singled to left field and advanced to second base on a wild pitch, Matt Gorski worked the count to 3-2 before hammering the ball over the left-center-field wall for a two-run homer and a 2-0 Pirates lead.
"I was losing grip on the ball there and trying to make pitches,” Holmes said. “I went to the slider too many times there, but I thought it was probably the best thing I could control, and I ended up getting beat with it."
Pittsburgh added to its lead three innings later when Holmes allowed another two-run homer to Jared Triolo, who made it a four-run game.
“I think the saying is so true: Home runs win ballgames across the league. We hit two of them tonight. Gorski and Triolo picked us up -- big time,” teammate Joey Bart said.
The Pirates used five pitchers -- Bailey Falter, Chase Shugart, Tanner Rainey, David Bednar and Dennis Santana -- to shut out the Mets, who went 0-for-4 with runners in scoring position. Shugart ended up winning the game by shutting out New York for 2 1/3 innings.
Pittsburgh was able to use its high-leverage relievers because starters Paul Skenes and Mitch Keller went deep into the game on Monday and Tuesday, respectively.
“They saved the bullpen in that regard and gave us a chance to be more aggressive today to go after the W,” Kelly said.
With Pittsburgh up by two runs, Shugart entered the game in the fourth inning with the bases loaded and two outs. He was able to get out of the jam by inducing José Azocar to fly out to center fielder Ji Hwan Bae to end the threat.
Shugart has been a reliable reliever this year. He has retired the first batter faced in 13-of-16 opportunities this season, and has stranded all seven of his inherited runners.
“Two outs, right-handed [hitter] out there. My job is to get that guy out and fill up the zone. I trusted the defense and that was it,” Shugart said. “I said it before: ‘You can’t let the moment be bigger than what it is.’”
Suddenly, there is a different vibe in the locker room and on the field under Kelly. Since he became the manager last Thursday, the Pirates have been competitive and consistently in their matchups. It also helps that he was a player, himself. Kelly played most of his career with the Tigers under Jim Leyland.
“He has been in our shoes as a player. He understands the grind every day,” Bart said. “I felt he has done a good job of communicating with everybody. That’s super important. It has been nice.
“We have been playing good baseball. It seems like we are a break away [from getting the big hit]. We needed that break. That’s what home runs do. They kind of free you up. Luckily, we got a couple of those [tonight]. If we can just keep our nose down, keep playing hard and play the game the right way, that’s how you eventually pick up more wins.”