It’s what Pirates fans have been waiting for all season. In their 22 games this season, the offense had yet to score more than five runs. As a matter of fact, the team hasn’t scored more than five runs since Sept. 26, 2011 in its 9-8 win over the Milwaukee Brewers. As they did that night, the offense broke out for nine runs tonight in the Pirates 9-3 win over the Braves.
Not only did the offense break out, but the Pirates put together a full-effort with another outstanding pitching performance by James McDonald. McDonald, who was coming off his no-hit bid against the Rockies, Was hit hard in the first two innings, giving up a two-run shot to Braves first baseman Freddie Freeman in the bottom of the first. After what looked like it would be a short outing for McDonald, he soon got into his zone and dominated Braves hitters the rest of the way.
McDonald went 7.2 innings and aside from Chris Resop who finished the game, he was able to give the bullpen a much needed night off. McDonald gave up three runs, all earned, and struck out 10 batters, a career-high.
For the offense, aside from the season-high 12 strikeouts, the unit looked good as all eight starting position players recorded at least one hit. When I saw the lineup the Pirates were using against the Braves tonight, I made the joke that they were going with the power approach. Going into the game, the lineup that Pirates Manager Clint Hurdle ran out on the field had a combined four home runs on the season – all by Pedro Alvarez.
The offense looked stagnant early on as they were unable to capitalize on first-and-third with no outs in the second inning. In what looked to be a typical Pirates offensive showing early on, the bats turned it around as they tacked on two runs of their own in the third inning courtesy of an RBI single by Josh Harrison and a sacrifice fly by Andrew McCutchen.
In the fourth, Alvarez added his fifth home run of the season with a two-run bomb over the right field wall in what would prove to be the game-winning hit. Not wanting Alvarez to get all of the home run praise, utility-man Yamaico Navarro, who started tonight’s game in left field, hit his first home run as a Pirate with his two-run shot in the sixth inning. Navarro hit 43 home runs in the minor leagues so the potential for power is there.
Wrapping up their April with a record of 10-12 is a great sign for the Pirates. April wasn’t only the toughest month for the team, but they had the toughest schedule to open the season out of any team in baseball. While there have been some missed opportunities and concerns with the offense, things have been turning around and the Pirates and their fans should be excited for the start of May.
The Pirates will travel to St. Louis tomorrow to embark on a three-game series before returning home for a nine-game home stand. The probable pitchers for tomorrow’s contest are Charlie Morton (1-1, 2.65 ERA) for the Pirates and Adam Wainwright (0-3, 7.32 ERA) for the Cardinals. First pitch is scheduled for 8:15 p.m. ET.
Photo credits: Getty Images
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