Whatever is Going Around the Pirates’ Clubhouse of Late… It’s Contagious

PITTSBURGH — OK, what has gotten into the Pittsburgh Pirates?

For the fourth-straight game, the Pirates came out on top. Not only that, but they DOMINATED yet again.

After sweeping the New York Mets over the weekend and outsourcing them 30-4 in the series, the Pirates blanked the St. Louis Cardinals for a 7-0 win on Monday night at PNC Park to tie their season-high win streak . 

It’s the first time since 1911 the Pirates have won four-straight games while scoring seven or more runs and holding their opponent to two runs or fewer in each win. 

Their run differential of +33 in these four games is their best since 1975. That team won the National League East after finishing 92-69

Andrew Heaney started for the Pirates on Monday and carried a no-hitter into the sixth inning of the win. It was a good bounce-back outing that resulted in his first win since May 21.

“His command was really good. Fastball command was really good, which opened up everything else,” manager Don Kelly said after the game. “I mean, what a start by him. We needed it. The bullpen has been taxed. To go that deep into the game and shoot, carry the no-hitter into the sixth inning, phenomenal start.” 

Heaney’s good start, and 2.1 innings of spotless relief from Chase Shugart continued the Pirates’ success on the mound. 

The team’s ERA over their last four games? 1.00. Heaney, Mitch Keller and Mike Burrows have combined to give up two runs over the last four games. Bailey Falter allowed one in a rain-shortened start on Saturday. 

“The starting pitching has been the same guys going out there and it’s been really nice to be able to score some runs for them,” Kelly said. “If the starters continue to do what they’ve done, the consistency has been unbelievable and that’s the foundation for us. They’ve done a really good job.”  

The Pirates certainly have given their pitching some much-deserved support.

The pitching has been good all season. The offense has not been, but you never would’ve guessed that if you didn’t start tuning into games until Friday.

During their four-game winning streak, the Pirates are hitting .364 as a team. They’ve totaled 51 hits during that span.

“Hitting’s contagious, and once one guy gets it rolling, it’s easy for another guy and then it just kind of flows from there,” said Spencer Horwitz.

Horwitz was the offensive hero on Monday night. Batting leadoff for the first time of the season, Horwitz opened the bottom of the first with a home run. He later tacked on a two-run double to give him three RBI, which tied a career-high.

“He did a great job,” Kelly said on his  first baseman. “He’s been swinging the bat well, going the other way. We saw it again later in the game, obviously the home run to lead it off was a great swing, but then he hits the double to left and then the left-on-left line drive to third base was another great swing. His at-bats have been really good.”

Everything is clicking right now for the Pirates. The pitching has been excellent. The hitting has been even better. The defense and baserunning have been good overall too.

With the win, the Pirates improved to 36-50 on the season. It will be nearly impossible to escape the hole they dug themselves into at the beginning of the season.

But the Pirates are now 24-24 under Kelly, and they’re playing a brand of baseball that a disgruntled fanbase can appreciate for the first time in a long time. 

“We’re hitting good, we’re pitching good and we’re playing good defense,” said Horwitz. “We’re playing really good baseball and hopefully we can keep it rolling.”