Pirates Series Takeaways: Cruz Shows Why, Finding Ways to Win But Walks Still Kill Ya
Well, it was an ugly end to the series but an overall successful quick-getaway series for the Pittsburgh Pirates against the Chicago Cubs at Wrigley Field over the weekend.
The Pirates relied on solid pitching and a Bryan Reynolds two-run home run to win the first game of the series. They somehow came up on top on Saturday afternoon in a wild game that was settled in the 11th inning. On Sunday, they built an early 5-0 but saw the Cubs keep chipping away until Chicago came all the way back to win it in the bottom of the ninth.
Again, the Pirates will happily take a series win but will fly back to Pittsburgh with a bit of a bad taste in their mouths before resetting for the start of a seven-game homestand on Monday.
Cruz Control
What a series it was for Oneil Cruz.
The Pirates center fielder went 6 for 11 with a home run, a double, three walks, two runs and five steals. In Saturday’s game, he became the first Pirate with four hits and three steals in a game since Matt Lawton on July 26, 2005. On Sunday, he belted his fifth-career leadoff home run.
Cruz’s home run extended his hitting streak to 11 games, which in addition to tying his career-best, is also the longest active streak in MLB.
Additionally, Cruz played some good center field. He has the tools to be a good defensive outfielder but even if he continues to lack on that side of the game, it will be much easier for the Pirates to swallow if he continues to perform at a high level at the plate and on the bases.
It’s early. And Cruz got off to a hot start last year only to fizz out. But there are more reasons to believe this start is more sustainable (not quite at this level obviously) and could be the early signs of a potential breakout season. The work he put in this offseason is paying dividends. He looks more engaged. And the talent has been on full display.
Finding Ways to Win
I can’t back it up with science, but something tells me last year’s Pirates would’ve had different results in the first two games of the series than this year’s Pirates.
I find it hard to believe last year’s Pirates would’ve scrapped together a win over the Cubs at Wrigley after being no-hit by Shota Imanaga through six innings with someone other than Paul Skenes on the mound. And even if he was, a loss would not have been shocking. But these guys won.
I also find it hard to believe last year’s Pirates would’ve hung on to win Saturday’s wild game. But these guys did.
Good teams win ugly, and the Pirates are finding ways to do that so far this year. And it’s not like they’ve had an overly-easy schedule through the early portion of the season. The Cubs, Padres, Orioles, Reds and Mets all project to be at least respectable teams, and Chicago, San Diego and Cincinnati all went to the playoffs last season.
Sunday’s loss erases some of that notion, but you can’t win ’em all. Let’s see how they respond on Monday.
Walks Still Kill Ya
The Pirates flirted with disaster on Saturday largely due to free passes. With a three-run lead in the fifth, Braxton Ashcraft walked Michael Conforto who came around to score. With a two-run lead in the seventh, Justin Lawrence walked Miguel Amaya who came around to score. With a one-run lead in the ninth, Dennis Santana walked Dansby Swanson who came around to score.
Fortunately for the Pirates, Yohan Ramírez did his best Harry Houdini impression to walk away with a win.
But in Sunday’s finale, walks were the difference. Hunter Barco and Lawrence combined to walk four in 2.2 innings out of the bullpen and three of those walks turned into runs, one of which was assisted by a very poor throw in from left fielder Bryan Reynolds. Lead: gone. José Urquidy, who took the loss on Sunday, also walked a batter in the fateful ninth inning.
Walks have been an issue for the Pirates this season, particularly from the bullpen. At the conclusion of play, Pittsburgh’s relievers have averaged six walks per nine innings (fourth-highest in MLB) and have walked 39 in 61 innings overall (fifth-most in MLB). Overall, the Pirates have issued 78 walks (also the fifth-most in MLB).
That will obviously need to change.
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Walks are always gonna hurt but leadoff walks with a 2 or 3 run lead are deadly and unacceptable…pound that strike zone fellas! Good series overall..come back home and start another streak..go bucs!
Up six nothing early. They sat confident with there lead. As I said start slow finish fast. Or. Start fast finish last. I seen it in every sport.