Pirates Win in Comeback Fashion Again; Beat Cubs 4-3, Back to .500

A Bryan Reynolds walk and an opposite-field double from Ke’Bryan Hayes in the third inning set the Pirates up for a Yoshi Tsutsugo game-tying sacrifice fly to deep left-center field for a 2-2 game.

Kevin Newman came up to the plate looking for redemption from Saturday’s game, and he delivered. A 105 MPH rocket to deep center field plated Hayes and gave the Pirates a 3-2 lead.

Newman for the lead! pic.twitter.com/chg7AQzqo9

— Pittsburgh Pirates (@Pirates) April 24, 2022

Insurance runs proved vital for the Pirates in the fourth inning. A throwing error from Jonathan Villar on a Hayes ground ball scoring Diego Castillo gave the Pirates a 4-2 lead.

Ian Happ hit a solo shot in the eighth inning off Heath Hembree cutting the lead to 4-3. The Cubs’ late-inning heroics were shut down in the ninth by David Bednar with three crucial outs with the winning run on 2nd, and the Pirates’ fourth run off of an error was crucial as they escaped Chicago with a 4-3 win. 

Bednar was dominate and overpowering at the most crucial point of the game. With runners at 2nd and 3rd and only 1 out, Bednar struck out Wilson Contreras on 3 consecutive 97 MPH fastballs. Then after intentionally walking Ian Happ, Bednar struck out Frank Schwindel on 3 consecutive 98 MPH fastballs to end the game.

BEDNAR REALLY IS THAT GUY pic.twitter.com/V4Kc2LZvfS

— Pittsburgh Pirates (@Pirates) April 24, 2022

Pirates’ starter JT Brubaker seemed to be battling some sickness Sunday afternoon. Brubaker’s velocity was down a tick, and something seemed slightly off with his demeanor. 

Brubaker settled down after the first inning despite all the underlying factors after giving up two early runs. Brubaker’s breaking stuff seemed to work effectively on Sunday, with six out of his nine whiffs coming from his curveball/slider combo. Brubaker’s line read three innings pitched, three hits, two runs (one earned), two walks, and four strikeouts. 

Dillon Peters followed up Brubaker in the fourth inning, and he dazzled yet again. In 2.2 innings of work, Peters allowed one hit, no runs, no walks, and two punch-outs. 

Wil Crowe displayed extreme intestinal fortitude in the seventh inning. With runners on the corners and no outs, Crowe forced a strikeout, pop-up, and a fly ball to center field. 

Takeaways

Crowe is that dude- Ever since Crowe entered the bullpen, he has been lights out. After today’s miraculous Houdini act, Crowe has yet to give up a run in 12.1 innings pitched.

Peter Peter batter eater- Peters, along with Crowe, has performed out of this world. Before his entrance in Sunday’s game, Peters allowed no hits in 7.2 innings of work. After today’s performance, Peters has allowed just one hit in ten innings of work.

Walk it out- Several times, the Pirates got into deep counts against the Cubs’ pitchers. Against starter Justin Steele, the Pirates walked four times. For the entire game, the Pirates drew six walks in total.