Much-Needed Start From Mitch Keller Leads Pirates to Rubber Match Win Over Rays
PITTSBURGH — After a 13 inning marathon loss on Saturday, the Pittsburgh Pirates needed Mitch Keller to provide some length in Sunday’s start against the Tampa Bay Rays.
The veteran right-hander provided that and more in their 6-3 rubber match win at PNC Park on Sunday afternoon.
Scoring Plays
Bottom 1st, 1-0 PIT: Jake Mangum doubled off Shane McClanahan (1-2) to start inning and moved to third on a Nick Gonzales single to right field. Bryan Reynolds plated Mangum after bouncing into a fielder’s choice.
Top 5th, 2-1 TB: The Rays (12-9) put together a two-out rally to take the lead against Mitch Keller (2-1). Hunter Feduccia singled home a pair of runs with a base hit to right.
Bottom 5th, 4-2 PIT: The Pirates (13-9) struck for three runs and knocked McClanahan out of the game. Gonzales plated a run with a base hit and Reynolds brought home two more with a single through the left side of a drawn-in infield.
Bottom 6th, 5-2 PIT: Spencer Horwitz pinch-hit for Billy Cook and belted a solo home run to right field off Rays reliever Mason Englert.
Bottom 8th, 6-2 PIT: Nick Yorke hit his first home run of the year, a solo shot off Ian Seymour, to tack on an insurance run.
Top 9th, 6-3 PIT: Junior Caminero led off the inning with a solo home run off Wilber Dotel, who was making his big-league debut.
Key Moments
Bryan Reynolds’ two-run single not only gave the Pirates the lead but but was a needed timely hit after Pittsburgh went 2 for 17 with runners in scoring position on Saturday.
Player of the Game
Mitch Keller completed seven innings for the first time since a seven-inning outing against the St. Louis Cardinals last year on July 2. The right-hander allowed a pair of runs on five hits with a season-high five strikeouts and no walks.
Stat to Know
With a strikeout of Yandy Díaz in the fifth inning, Mitch Keller passed Rick Rhoden (852) for 10th-place on the Pirates all-time strikeouts list.
Notable Performances
- Mitch Keller: 7.0 innings, five hits, two runs, no walks, five strikeouts, 89 pitches/58 strikes
- Bryan Reynolds: 2 for 4, three RBI
- Nick Gonzales: 2 for 4, one RBI, one run
- Jake Mangum: 2 for 5, one double, one steal, one run
- Spencer Horwitz: 1 for 2, one home run, one RBI, one run
- Nick Yorke: 1 for 4, one home run, one RBI, one run
Noteworthy
- Marcell Ozuna extended his hitting streak to seven games with an double to begin the bottom of the fourth inning. Konnor Griffin extended his hitting streak to six games with an infield single in the eighth.
- Bryan Reynolds’ two-run single in the fifth inning snapped an 0-for-14 skid.
- The Pirates recalled RHP Wilber Dotel from Triple-A Indianapolis and optioned RHP Cam Sanders. Dotel allowed one run in one inning out of the bullpen. He punched out Jonathan Aranda for his first strikeout.
Up Next
The Pirates are off on Monday and will begin a three-game series against the Texas Rangers at Globe Life Field on Tuesday night.
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I loved the hustle from magnum and griffin. Overall good bounce back from yesterday but they need to clean up the win, loss, win, loss trend