Production in 2nd inning adds up to 2nd win in row
The second inning alone has gotten the Pirates out of their offensive funk.
On Saturday, they strung together five hits, two walks and a fielder’s choice to score seven runs in the second inning. Sunday’s output wasn’t quite as robust, but they still sent eight batters to the plate, totaled five hits and scored three runs.
In both scenarios, the big innings came after the Chicago Cubs had scored first. In both scenarios, it was all the offense they would need.
The Pirates continued to add runs in the third, fourth and
On the Pirates seventh innings, and right-hander JT Brubaker twirled a strong outing to secure their second win in a row over the Cubs, 7-1, and move to 3-6 on the young season.
“Even though we didn’t win the home opener, I still feel like we put together good at-bats, got guys on base. We just couldn’t get anybody in,” catcher Jacob Stallings said.
“So the last two days, everyone was able to spend a night and a whole off day with their families or relaxing at home. I think it was a nice reset button for guys. Everyone came in with a lot of energy and I think it showed on the field.”
While the offense set things on the right track, Brubaker’s performance was perhaps most encouraging, as it was stacked onto a similarly solid first start of the season. This time, though, he was as efficient as any Pirates pitcher has been this season.
Brubaker’s only real mistake of the game came in the second inning, when he hung a slider to Cubs shortstop Javier Baez, who promptly deposited it 410 feet away, into the center field shrubbery.
The 27-year-old got into some trouble in the third inning, too, giving up a oneout single to Ian Happ and then hitting Willson Contreras. Anthony Rizzo then ground hard into what ended up being a double play, when Contreras was called for runner’s interference after a late slide into second.
Brubaker slammed the door on another potential threat in the fourth inning, and in the end turned it into as good of a start as the Pirates have had this year, going 5⅓ innings, allowing just four hits, one walk and one run on 74 pitches.
It was an improvement, even, from his previous start, when he pitched four innings and allowed one run, but issued four walks in the process. He was in the strike zone with much more regularity this time around, mixed both his fastballs with his slider and curveball and kept the Cubs off balance all afternoon.
“Means a lot, really,” Brubaker said. “Getting outs in the zone, that’s been the goal for our entire staff. Let’s attack hitters and get outs in the zone. I think that as long as we can continue that mentality, that’s what it’s gonna look like for series, multiple series.”
Strangely enough, Brubaker also produced more RBIs than anyone else offensively. In that three-run second inning, with runners on second and third, Brubaker hit a weak line
drive that skipped off the right-field line and scored two. In the bottom of the third, with the bases loaded, he bounced a ball over the pitcher’s mound that scored a run on a fielder’s choice. His three RBIs currently place him in a tie for fifth on the team in that category.
“One: Just swing the bat. Any chance I can get to swing it,” Brubaker said. “We had runners on second and third, less than two [outs], and really in my mind, I was just trying to put the ball in play. At least get an RBI there and help myself out. Luckily I was able to put it down the firstbase line and keep it fair.”
Of course, the other Pirates produced, too, as one would imagine in a 14hit, seven-run effort. Left fielder Bryan Reynolds went 4 for 5 with four
singles, first baseman Colin Moran tallied another RBI with a fourth-inning single, center fielder Dustin Fowler chipped in with an RBI double, and Stallings went 2 for 3 with a walk and two runs.
Late in the game, the true dagger came from Wilmer Difo, who was pinch-hitting in the pitcher’s spot in the lineup. With one on and one out, he roped a line drive over the wall in right field to make it 7-1.
It was academic from there, as Sam Howard, Chris Stratton, Kyle Crick and David Bednar combined for 3⅔ of scoreless pitching to wrap up the game and send the Pirates to their first series win of the season.
“... And really in my mind, I was just trying to put the ball in play.”
— Pirates starter JT Brubaker Singled in two runs in second inning