Pirates Defeat Marlins 3-2; Win Fourth Straight Game for First Time Since 2019

By defeating the Marlins 3-2 on Tuesday night in Miami, the Pirates accomplished something they haven’t done in three seasons. With the win, the Pirates earned their fourth straight victory, marking the first time that has been accomplished by the Bucs since Sept. 24-27, 2019.

That means that this is the first time under Derek Shelton’s watch as the team’s manager that the team has enjoyed a four-game winning streak, dating back to two straight wins in Milwaukee before winning the first two games of this series.

For the second straight game, Jake Marisnick blasted a homer to left field. This one, a solo shot in the third inning, put the Pirates ahead 1-0.

Jake Marisnick is loving Miami. pic.twitter.com/5ilPnuSkOV

— Pittsburgh Pirates (@Pirates) July 12, 2022

The Marlins tied the game in the home half of the frame thanks to a Joey Wendle sacrifice fly.

The Bucs jumped back out in front in the fifth after plating a pair of runs. Oneil Cruz roped his first career triple, scoring Diego Castillo all the way from first. Jason Delay immediately followed with an RBI-single up the middle the put Pittsburgh ahead 3-1.

Hit by Cruz. Wheels by Castillo. pic.twitter.com/cR7ZfObHze

— Pittsburgh Pirates (@Pirates) July 13, 2022

Standing on second base, Miguel Rojas broke for third in an attempted stolen base. Ke’Bryan Hayes went to cover third and Nick Fortes hit a grounder to the hole vacated by Hayes, which allowed Rojas to score.

For the first time since Apr. 23 in 2019, Chris Stratton started a game instead of his usual relief capacity that he’s been utilized in since joining the Pirates. Stratton was used in as an opener and gave the Pirates 2.1 innings on the mound. The Wendle sacrifice fly was charged to his line.

Stratton gave way to Dillon Peters, fresh off the injured list, who worked 2.2 strong innings in his first game back with the Pirates.

The Pirates will go for the series win on Wednesday. JT Brubaker (2-8, 4.34 ERA) will be on the mound for Pittsburgh. The Pirates lineup will face a tall task in facing Pablo Lopez (6-4, 2.91 ERA).

Takeaways

• Worked Like A Charm: The Pirates utilized a bullpen game in this one and it worked well. Stratton and Peters began the evening as they combined to cover five innings, allowing two runs combined against Miami. Tyler Beede looked particular strong as he was tasked with covering the sixth and seventh innings. He didn’t allow a baserunner and picked up two strikeouts. Wil Crowe did what he has largely done all season with a 1-2-3 eighth inning, as did David Bednar, who picked up the save in the ninth.
• Ball Magnet: At one point in the game, Marisnick recorded five straight putouts after catching to flyballs in right-center to end the second and snagging all three fly ball opportunities his way in the third inning. The Bucs centerfielder had to travel a ways for some of his chances out there but made them all look routine. Funny enough, after the five straight putouts came Marisnick’s homer. In total, Marisnick recorded six putouts on the night.
• Hitting Streak For Newman: This was Kevin Newman’s fifth game since coming off the injured list and after a first-inning single, Newman has hit safely in all five of those contests. In fact, Newman now has a seven-game hitting streak as he picked up hits in his last two games before hitting the IL. Over those seven games, Newman is batting .429 (12 for 28) with a pair of doubles and five runs driven in. 
• Suwisnki’s Slump: After an 0 for 4 performance in this one, Jack Suwinski’s prolonged slump continued. Suwinski is now hitless in his last 26 at-bats dating back to the first game of the two-game set against the Yankees at PNC Park. His last hit was a sixth-inning single against Jameson Taillon in that game. The rookie outfielder has been sat down on strikes nine times over his current hitless slump. Suwinski is clearly in a funk at the plate as evident by three check-swing groundouts on Tuesday.