With Memorial Day just a day away, it was only fitting the the Pirates would use the heavy artillery on their enemy and complete the sweep the three-game set against the Cubs. The Pirates sent the Cubs out of Pittsburgh with their losing streak now at 12 games.
In the 10-4 win, the Pirates were led by the power bats of Pedro Alvarez, Andrew McCutchen and Garrett Jones to ease them to victory. This is the third time this season that the Pirates hit three or more home runs in the game and the second time they scored nine or more runs in a game.
“We got an effective start from Erik (Bedard),” Pirates Manager Clint Hurdle said. “It was good to see Pedro sit back and hit a change up into the bleachers. Andrew straight pull, dead left with some power. He’s had a very impressive month of May. And it’s good to see Jones not just hit the home run on the off speed pitch, but also take an off speed pitch to left of center for a double earlier in the game. We threw some power out there today and it would be good to see us get it a little more consistently.”
The first shot of the game came in the bottom of the first which seemed to take an eternity. Alvarez stepped to the dish with Jose Tabata and Josh Harrison on and delivered a shot over the Clemente Wall in right field. The three run shot was the Pirates first of the season.
“I was just told right now,” Alvarez said about hitting the first three-run home run of the season for the Pirates. “Whenever we can add a couple runs early on, it lets the pitchers an opportunity know they don’t have to be perfect with each pitch and let them execute their pitches without the pressure.”
The home run by Alvarez would give him a team-high eight for the season, but he wouldn’t hold the top spot for long. McCutchen came up in the bottom of the fifth and quickly tied up his teammate with his eighth of the year.
“It was definitely good to have a big inning and hopefully we can keep this momentum going,” McCutchen said. “When you’re hitting, it’s contagious. When everyone else is hitting, it makes you want to go up there and get some confidence to get a hit too. At the same time, it gives our pitching a little breather so that they can relax just go out and throw.”
Not to be outdone, Jones, who they call G.I. Jones, felt at home in his camouflage jersey by hitting a two-run shot in the sixth for his fifth of the season and the sixth run of the game for the Pirates. The Pirates would go on to score a total of six runs in the inning, capped off by Gorkys Hernandez’s first career hit and RBI as they brought up 11 men in the inning.
“It felt great because the manager gave me another opportunity to get my first big league hit and RBI in the same at bat,” Hernandez said with a smile on his face. “I got the ball and I’ll give it to my wife. That was for my wife, mother and daughter too.”
The recipient of all the runs for the Pirates believe it or not is Erik Bedard. Bedard, who as most of the Pirates pitchers are, has been a victim of lack of run support throughout the season. Bedard has been shaky his past two starts since his back spasm injury, but despite walking four, he struck out three and only surrendered the two hits over six innings.
“It feels good,” Bedard said about the run support. “Getting on a roll like that and scoring 10 runs, it’s nice. Makes it easier for a pitcher to pitch.”
With their first sweep of the season, the Pirates will look to continue their three-game winning streak against the red hot Cincinnati Reds. Bronson Arroyo (2-2, 3.22 ERA) will take the hill for the Reds. The Pirates will turn to their ace James McDonald (3-2, 2.51 ERA) in the series opener. The game will start at 1:35 p.m. ET in a special Memorial Day edition of Pirates baseball.
Photo credits: Associated Press
Discussion about this post