Harrison brings energy, enthusiasm back to ballpark

does.”

Neal Huntington tried not to be greedy before the game when he was asked about Harrison, who was playing for the first time since April 15 when a bone in his left hand was broken by a pitch from Miami’s Jose Urena. But Huntington couldn’t help himself. He dared to hope for a Jung Ho Kanglike comeback. Kang hit two home runs to win a game in St. Louis in May 2016, playing for the first time since his horrific leg injury the previous September.

Harrison almost delivered as much. He led off and hit a line single to left-center in the first inning on the third pitch he saw. He doubled to the left-center wall in the third. He had an infield single in the fifth. He hit a sacrifice fly to center to give the Pirates a 5-4 lead in the eighth.

“It felt good. It felt like it’s been forever,” Harrison said of his return. “Wish we had won. But all things considered, it felt good to be back out there with my boys.”

The loss dropped the Pirates to 10-5 with Harrison in the starting lineup. They went 15-15 while he was on the disabled list. Everybody in the organization was eager to get him back.

“The stabilization of a veteran helps,” Huntington said. “The energy that he brings on a daily basis. The battle in the box …

“Adam [Frazier] and Sean [Rodriguez] have worked hard and done everything that they can do, but we’ve missed some production at the top of the lineup that Josh has typically brought to us. We’re all looking forward to getting Josh’s energy and his ability back in this lineup.”

Everyone who talks about Harrison mentions his energy. I hate to pat any player on the back for playing hard — isn’t that what they are paid big money to do? — but he takes it to a different level every game. He’s all-out, allthe-time. His failure to get to first base on a safety-squeeze bunt by Freddy Galvis certainly wasn’t because of a lack of hustle.

“It’s just a tough play,” Harrison said. “We’re in and that bunt hopped up high. It wasn’t a normal bunt. It bounced high. All it takes is one of those little hops — a split second — and that guy can run. If I’m there, I think he’s still safe. But that’s baseball. You’ve got to play 27 outs, sometimes more than that.”

Harrison was the Pirates’ best, most consistent everyday player last season before the same bone in his left hand was broken by a pitch Sept. 2 from Cincinnati’s Tyler Mahle. He batted .272 with 16 home runs and a .771 OPS. He also played whatever position — second base, third base, left field — that Clint Hurdle needed. He provided the best memory of the season when he hit a 10th-inning home run at PNC Park Aug. 23 to beat Los Angeles, 1-0, breaking up pitcher Rich Hill’s no-hitter in the process.

“It was pretty cool to be the first in history to break up a no-hitter with a home run in extra innings,” Harrison said after the game.

I expect similar big moments from Harrison now that he’s back. But first things first. The Pirates are off Monday before opening a threegame series in Cincinnati. Harrison will enjoy every second of his down time. Cincinnati is home for him, his wife, Brittney, and their two young daughters. He left to make the drive across Interstate 70 and down Interstate 71 right after the game.

“Can’t wait to get there,” Harrison said.

Can’t wait to play again Tuesday night, as well.

I can’t wait to watch him.