Pittsburgh Pirates Three Stars of the Week Sep. 13-19

The Pirates enjoyed another successful week of baseball in the home stretch of the 2021 season. The Bucs began the week by taking two out of three from the Cincinnati Reds before heading to Miami where they won the series agsint the Marlins. Though a series sweep still eludes the Pirates this year, the Pirates are 8-4 in their last 12 games played, winning all four series two games to one.

Pittsburgh enjoyed a successful week thanks to a balanced approach from both their pitchers as well as their offense.

The three stars of the week for this week are not necessarily the names that would be expected, but all three were major contributors for the Bucs.

Disclaimer: Cole Tucker had an outstanding week, going 6 for 11 with a double and a triple, but having only played three games, he didn’t quite make the cut but his performance was still worthy of recognition. Here are the Pirates top three performers from last week:

Third Star: Anthony Alford – .294/.368/.471 5 for 17, 2B, 3B, RBI, R, SB

Since being recalled by the Pirates last month, Alford has been much better at the plate and that continued last week. Alford showed off his wheels this week after legging out a pair of extra-base hits, stealing a bag putting pressure on Marlins’ ace Sandy Alcantara that got the Pirates on the board first on Sunday. Here’s a clip of Alford’s hustling triple:

Soarin', flyin' pic.twitter.com/UM0P9BKrhd

— Pittsburgh Pirates (@Pirates) September 19, 2021

The main area of concern for Alford has been strikeouts, but he did a better job of getting the bat on the ball this past week, striking out just four times.

Second Star: Yoshi Tsutsugo – .350/.435/.450 7 for 20, 2 2B, 4 RBI, 3 R, 6 games

This is starting to sound like a broken record, but Tsutsugo again finds himself as one of the weekly three stars for the Pittsburgh Pirates. Tsutsugo has flat out hit since joining the Pirates and nothing changed last week. He delivered some clutch hits, including a big RBI double in the Pirates come-from-behind win on Wednesday.

Yoshi to the notch. pic.twitter.com/LBBG76csby

— Pittsburgh Pirates (@Pirates) September 16, 2021

Tsutsugo has hit, hit for power and has gotten on base and should be getting plenty of playing time down the stretch.

First Star: Hoy Park – .235/.381/.529 4 for 17, 3B, HR, 4 RBI, 2 R, 6 games

Park’s debut on Three Stars of the Week is at the top spot. Though he did not hit for a high average, Park hit for power, logging nine total bases. He also was able to get on base by showing patience at the plate and drawing four walks. Park hit a clutch ninth-inning homer to give the Pirates the lead on Sunday that looked like it would give the Pirates their first sweep of the season.

HOY! HOY! HOY! pic.twitter.com/mnvFSvQLGo

— Pittsburgh Pirates (@Pirates) September 19, 2021

The Pirates have a full week coming up with three games against the Reds in Cincinnati before heading across the state of Pennsylvania for a four-game set with the Phillies. Check back next week to see the Pirates’ top three performers from the seven-game road trip.