The Pirates (9-5) keep defying the odds in this early season as they blew it late, only to win it in 11 to remain in first place and have a chance to sweep the Cubs at Wrigley Field Sunday afternoon. Jim and Doug gave their assessment of Saturday’s blood-pressure rising game with their postgame recap that you can watch here. Now let’s get into my three takeaways from this wild affair.
Pirates Win Another Game that They Would’ve Lost in Other Years
This team just keeps getting it done somehow. The Pirates dominated this game for about 6 innings. Up 3-0 then 3-1 and then the bullpen gave up a run to make it a one-run game. The offense despite getting hits and traffic on the bases, couldn’t get any insurance runs and then they blew it in the 9th as the Cubs tied it on Alex Bregman‘s RBI single off Dennis Santana. I’m not going to fault Santana in that spot, he’s been lights out this year and games like this are going to happen. But in other years, the Pirates would have lost it right there or in extras. Instead, Santana gets Ian Happ to flyout to end the threat in the 9th. Then after the Pirates were blanked in the top of the 10th, Ramirez comes out of the pen and shuts down the Cubs as well to go 11. Brandon Lowe comes through to scratch a run across in the 11th and Ramirez comes back out, has a throwing error to put runners at second and third with no out, he gets the next two outs, intentionally walks Happ to load the bases and then gets Seiya Suzuki to pop out for the win. The Pirates have been playing with fire with RISP and walks all season but for now the pitchers seem to come through when it matters and the offense doesn’t quit. Saturday’s 4-3 win was just another piece of evidence that this team is better and different from previous years.
What a Game from Oneil Cruz
Basically since his first-inning mishaps on Opening Day, Oneil Cruz has sort of been on fire. Definitely at the plate at least. Saturday was just his latest memorizing performance: 4-for-5, one run scored, a double and three stolen bases. Cruz is now slashing an absurd .345/.400/.618. The last Pirates player to have four hits and three steals in a game was Matt Lawton back in July of 2005. Hey, I interned with the Pirates that summer! That’s how long that’s been. Tony Womack also did this feat twice in 1998 and 1997. It’s only been done 14 total times in the history of the Pirates. Here’s the full list via Baseball Reference:
One of those Womack games was also in Wrigley Field and Saturday was just the fourth time a player had at least four hits and at least three steals at Wrigley. Wild stuff. Cruz is hitting lefties, he’s hitting for power and he’s stealing bases. The man is doing it all right now. It’s been a long time coming from Cruz and here’s hoping he keeps this up all season long because it sure is fun to watch.
Pitch Your Horses
This game was just more proof of why you pitch your horses to the max when you get the chance. No, I’m not talking about Braxton Ashcraft. He was fabulous, but he only went five innings which is fine because him and Bubba Chandler‘s innings and pitches are going to be closely monitored this season. That’s to be expected and it’s the smart move. But the bullpen got used heavily in this one. The Pirates tossed six relievers Saturday including Yohan Ramirez who went two innings in extras. That NS9 Bullpen Breakdown is going to have a lot of color on it tomorrow. This bullpen was used a lot. At this rate, the bullpen is going to be exhausted by midseason. Which is all the more reason to pitch your horses like Mitch Keller and Paul Skenes. So when Skenes is at 77 pitches, bring him back out for another inning. And when Keller, an eight-year veteran, is sitting at 75 pitches and is absolutely cruising, bring him out for another inning or two. Pitch…your…horses to 90+ pitches.
When I tweet about this on X, folks come at me saying “this is what teams do these days!” No, they do not. I’m sick of that narrative. They’re not even doing it in April this season. And you don’t have to look any further than the Pirates last two opponents. The Padres German Marquez had 92 pitches, Nick Pivetta threw 86 pitches and Michael King, who was injured for part of last year, threw 95 pitches in the same game the Pirates pulled Keller at 75 and then the bullpen collapsed. And this series, the Cubs let Shota Imanaga go 100 pitches against the Bucs in game one and Saturday Edward Cabrera went 98 pitches. Teams are letting their pitchers pitch to 90 pitches and beyond…in April…with it being chilly out. It’s time for the Pirates to start pushing some of their horses.
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