Pittsburgh Pirates Three Stars of the Week Sep. 6-12

It was a successful week for the Pittsburgh Pirates, taking two out of three from both the Detroit Tigers and the Washington Nationals. It marked the second time in three weeks that the Pirates have enjoyed a winning record for the week (4-3 vs. Arizona and St. Louis from Aug. 23-29).

Despite a disastrous six-game road trip to Chicago, the Pirates are 10-12 over their last 22 games played, and are playing better down the home stretch. Here are the Pirates’ three top performers from last week.

Third Star: Ke’Bryan Hayes – .375/.405/.375 9 for 24, 4 RBIs, 5 R, 2 SB, 6 games

Hayes has seemed to have found a new home batting leadoff for the Pirates in all six of their games from last week. He reached base in all six of those games, and recorded at least one hit in five of the six. On the week, Hayes also collected three multi-hit games, his first multi-hit effort since Aug. 14 vs. Milwaukee.

Hayes put an exclamation point on his big week with a walk-off base hit on Friday night, the first walk-off of Hayes’ career.

YOUNG HAYES CALLS GAME!!!#WALKOFF #RAISEIT pic.twitter.com/hVcEQ49Lj0

— Pittsburgh Pirates (@Pirates) September 11, 2021

Second Star: Yoshi Tsutsugo .313/.500/.375 5 for 16, 2B, 2 RBIs, 3 R, 6 BB, 5 games

The legend of Tsutsugo lives on. After largely doing damage in the power department, Tsutsugo had a different approach this week, hitting mostly singles and drawing a ton of walks. Tsutsugo is starting to become a regular on the Three Stars of the Week it seems.

His biggest hit was on Labor day, when he provided the Bucs with some breathing room late in the game.

Yoshi just hits. pic.twitter.com/eZKNmGEcMZ

— Pittsburgh Pirates (@Pirates) September 6, 2021

First Star: Ben Gamel – .273/.360/.455 6 for 22, 2B, HR, 3 RBIs, 4 R, 6 games

Gamel did a little bit of everything last week as he impacted the game both at the plate and in the field. Gamel hit a go-ahead two-run shingle on Tuesday, and scored the game-winning run on Hayes’ walk-off from Friday, and has been a welcomed addition to the 2020 Pirates.

He capped off a big week with a game-tying home run on Saturday, his first long ball since he hit two in one game against the Braves on July 5.

Gamel goes yard! pic.twitter.com/WHUeZyYsKK

— Pittsburgh Pirates (@Pirates) September 12, 2021

The Pirates play host to the Reds to finish off a nine-game homestand starting on Tuesday before heading to Miami for a weekend series with the Marlins. Check back next week to see who performed the best for these six games.