*Photo from the San Diego Union Tribune*
Despite low expectations this season, the Pittsburgh Pirates are not rolling over so far this season. Andrew Knapp drove in two runs, Michael Chavis came up with some timely hits, and the Pirates defeated the Washington Nationals with a 6-4 win on Saturday night in Pittsburgh.
There's one thing you need to know about the Pirates. They aren't sluggers. They'll beat you with clutch hits, aggressive baserunning, and timely pitching. That's how they did it on Saturday, and that's how they want to do it, because it requires a full team effort. Home runs do not.
Pirates manager Derek Shelton said of their approach that "We’re going to need our full roster to do that. We’ve talked on the pitching side, we’re gonna need everybody to contribute in different ways. Bednar pitched in the seventh today. We didn’t see him do that at all last year."
It was the Nationals who got on the board first, thanks to an RBI double from Alcides Escobar in the top of the second inning, making it 1-0 Nats. In the bottom half, Knapp laced a double down the left field line, scoring Jake Marisnick to tie the game 1-1. Knapp then came around to score on an RBI single by Cole Tucker, making it 2-1 Pirates.
Once the 5th inning hit, Juan Soto launched a mammoth home run into the Allegheny River, with his solo home run tying the game at a 2-2 score. In the bottom of the 5th, Ke'Bryan Hayes scored on an RBI single by Chavis, putting the Pirates ahead 3-2.
In the 8th inning, Chavis scored on an RBI single by Diego Castillo, making it a 4-2 Pirates lead. Castillo and Yoshi Tsutsugo both scored on a fielders choice plus throwing error, off the bat of Knapp originally, making it 6-2. In the 9th, a Josh Bell RBI single and Keibert Ruiz RBI fielders choice brought the Nationals to a 6-4 deficit, but that was all they could get.
Chavis said of his baserunning and overall game this season that "I was kind of taught to run until the defense stops you. I run as hard as I can until the defense stops me. The hitting staff, and everybody around here, has really helped me stay in shape in the field and in the batting cage, as well. I've been getting my work in and just waiting for my opportunity."
It was Bryse Wilson getting the start for the Pirates in this one. Wilson lasted 4 1/3 innings, allowing two runs on 4 hits and 3 walks, striking out two hitters in a no decision. Chris Stratton allowed two runs in his inning of work in the 9th, with David Bednar and Dillon Peters throwing shutout appearances out of the bullpen, with Peters getting the win.
Josh Rogers got the start for the Nationals. He lasted just as long as Wilson, allowing 3 runs on 6 hits and two walks over 4 1/3 innings. Steve Cishek and Victor Arano had scoreless appearances, before Kyle Finnegan allowed 3 runs in 2/3 of an inning, requiring Hunter Harvey to get the final out of the 8th inning.
Washington manager Dave Martinez said of the team's inability to capitalize that "We had some opportunities with guys on base. We hit the ball hard, though. We lined out a few times. We just couldn’t get that big hit with guys on base."
The Nationals and Pirates conclude their series on Sunday, with Jose Quintana getting the ball for the Pirates, opposed by Washington's Patrick Corbin.
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