Hitting stats rank near top of NL

The Pirates entered a game Saturday night against the Chicago Cubs ranked No. 1 or No. 2 in multiple National League hitting categories. The Pirates had the toprated on-base percentage (.331) and were ranked No. 2 in runs (624), RBI (603) and hits (1,306). They were tied for second in batting average at .260. “I think from start until now they’ve continued to try to get a little bit better every day,” Pirates manager Clint Hurdle said. “They continue to be stubborn with their approach. It’s been a very selfless approach up there. We’re not trying to jump fastballs, we’re just trying to hit them. We’re using the whole field.” Two players are in the race for the NL batting title — Josh Harrison and Andrew McCutchen — and several others have produced better in the second half than the first. In the past seven games — heading into Saturday — the Pirates had 84 hits, including 19 doubles and eight home runs. This month, the team leads the league in extra base hits (42) and doubles (29). “There’s a lot of confidence going on. They’re connecting the dots. Hitting’s contagious, pitching’s contagious,” Hurdle said. “We’re in a place right now where everybody has been able to throw a quality at-bat. When you connect that you have some of the big innings we’ve had, some of the multi-run innings.”

Marte remains out

Starling Marte remained out of the lineup for a second game in a row after suffering an elbow contusion in his first at-bat Thursday night in Philadelphia when A.J. Burnett plunked him with a curveball. Hurdle said there has been some improvement, but not enough to warrant being penciled into the lineup. “He’s improving to some degree. But not where’s going to be able to start,” said Hurdle. “The level of competing is still minimal at best. He’s going to continue to work. He went out and swung the bat. Tried to do some defensive work. He’s still limited in a couple of areas.” Hurdle said Marte could be available as a pinch-runner, but nothing else.

Axford’s arsenal

The year John Axford recorded 46 saves for the Milwaukee Brewers, he relied on his curveball and slider to complement a mid-90 mph fastball. “The year he saved 40-plus games it was a weapon, always has been,” Hurdle said. “He was a fastball, curveball, slider guy. The curve he could throw in any count. It’s a hard down break, and a nice separation from his fastball which can hit mid 90s. When the success has been on his side it’s been strike on early and some success late.” Hurdle said it was important to get him on the mound Friday night in the ninth inning to allow success and preserve closer Mark Melancon. “He’s had a lot of success pitching in the back end,” Hurdle said. “This year you want a guy with a slow heartbeat out there who’s had some experience in doing it.”

Attendance figures

The Pirates are creeping up on an attendance milestone. They have had 18 sellouts at PNC Park this season and were expected to play in front of another capacity crowd Saturday night. That is four shy of the 2013 clubrecord 23 sellouts with seven home games to go.