Losing Streak No More: Pirates Beat Rockies 8-3, Stop Skid at Four

A day before the All-Star break, the Pittsburgh Pirates and Colorado Rockies dueled it out Sunday afternoon. Riding a four-game losing streak, the Pirates finally scored some runs and snapped their ice-cold stretch of games. Pirates fans can now rejoice.

In the top of the sixth, the Pirates had one out with Jason Delay at the plate. Delay smacked his second hit of the game and then advanced to third base after a Kevin Newman double. 

Ke’Bryan Hayes hit a 105 mph groundout allowing Delay to score and give the Pirates a 4-3 lead. Michael Chavis followed up with a huge line drive single, scoring Newman, making it a 5-3 Pirates’ lead.

Bring him in, Chavis! pic.twitter.com/KVpIVSDaxB

— Pittsburgh Pirates (@Pirates) July 17, 2022

The Pirates avoided the sweep and beat the Rockies 8-3 and now find themselves heading into the All-Star break with a ton to think about, including the MLB Draft. 

Bryse Wilson’s Sunday afternoon started off rather well despite giving up the first inning run. Wilson easily handled the Rockies’ batters and limited base runners through the first three innings of work. Things got a little dicey for the recently called-up Wilson in the fourth inning. 

With one out in the fourth, Wilson allowed a double from C.J. Cron, followed by a sharp hit single to center field by Brendan Rogers. Derek Shelton then pulled Wilson in favor of the lefty Manny Bañuelos. Bañuelos did give up one run but effectively got out of the inning with the lead intact. 

Wilson’s final line read 3.1 innings pitched, four hits, two earned runs, no walks, and three strikeouts. Wilson threw 48 pitches and threw 31 strikes (around 65% strike rate). Now we wait and see if/when Wilson is optioned. Wilson has one option left. 

Daniel Vogelbach hit a 370 ft RBI single in the top of the first inning, giving the Pirates an early 1-0 lead.

Vogey for the lead. pic.twitter.com/YoJCZtDnUX

— Pittsburgh Pirates (@Pirates) July 17, 2022

The Rockies answered right back in the bottom of the first with a Jose Iglesias sac-fly to right field. The Rockies and Pirates were tied at one.

In the top of the third, Jake Marisnick doubled in the left-center gap scoring two runs for the Pirates. Pittsburgh took a 3-1 lead.

Randal Grichuck grounded into a force out, scoring Cron in the bottom of the fourth. The Rockies cut the Pirates’ lead by one and made it a 3-2 game.

Charlie Blackmon did his job in the bottom of the fifth with a deep enough sac-fly to center field, scoring Elias Diaz. The Rockies and the Pirates were tied 3-3.

Cruz delivers! pic.twitter.com/StKkrK2DUr

— Pittsburgh Pirates (@Pirates) July 17, 2022

Oh hello, Newman 👀 pic.twitter.com/CuJPLCIULr

— Pittsburgh Pirates (@Pirates) July 17, 2022

Oneil Cruz smacked an opposite-field RBI single, and Newman delivered a two-RBI single in the top of the ninth, blowing the game open for the Pirates. Pittsburgh’s lead extended to 8-3.