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All of the Key Moments in the Pirates’ Home Opener Win

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The Pittsburgh Pirates beat the Detroit Tigers today in their home opener at PNC Park, bringing their record to 3-4 on the season. The Pirates won thanks to a lot of power, great pitching from Gerrit Cole, and a key performance from Jared Hughes. Here is a summary of the events, along with photos from Pirates Prospects photographer David Hague (click the images for a larger view).

Andrew McCutchen and Neil Walker were presented with their 2014 Silver Slugger awards before the game.

(Photo Credit: David Hague)
Andrew McCutchen – (Photo Credit: David Hague)

(Photo Credit: David Hague)
Neil Walker – (Photo Credit: David Hague)

A.J. Burnett got a big ovation from the record-setting crowd at PNC Park when he was announced.

(Photo Credit: David Hague)
A.J. Burnett – (Photo Credit: David Hague)

Gerrit Cole: “There were some butterflies early, for sure, before the game. Luckily I was able to calm those down.”

(Photo Credit: David Hague)
(Photo Credit: David Hague)

It helped that Josh Harrison got the Pirates on the board first, sending the first pitch over the wall.

 

Harrison: “I was just looking [for a fastball] out over the plate, and he left it up, and I put a good swing on it.”

(Photo Credit: David Hague)
Josh Harrison – (Photo Credit: David Hague)

Gerrit Cole pitched a gem, giving up one run on three hits in six innings, with two walks and eight strikeouts.

(Photo Credit: David Hague)
Gerrit Cole – (Photo Credit: David Hague)

Cole: “For the most part we stayed down and just tried to work the ball in and out, and that seemed to work for us today.”

(Photo Credit: David Hague)
Gerrit Cole – (Photo Credit: David Hague)

There was a rough moment in the seventh inning when Cole loaded the bases with no outs. Jared Hughes was called on and got a double play with his first pitch, followed by a two-pitch pop out.

 

Hughes: “With the bases loaded you just have to pitch aggressively, get ahead in the count. What I was planning on doing is getting ahead in the count, because that’s when you have the odds in your favor as a pitcher.”

 

Cole: “It was excellent execution. Didn’t waste any time getting the double play, which was awesome. Went right after the next guy and popped him straight up.”

(Photo Credit: David Hague)
Jared Hughes – (Photo Credit: David Hague)

Hughes got out of the jam, but gave up a run to cut the Pirates’ lead to 2-1. But the first basemen broke it open in the bottom of the seventh. Pedro Alvarez started things off with a solo homer, his third of the year.

(Photo Credit: David Hague)
Pedro Alvarez – (Photo Credit: David Hague)

Corey Hart followed that up with a pinch hit home run later in the inning, giving the Pirates a 5-1 lead. It was nice to see Hart hitting a key home run in PNC Park while not wearing a Brewers uniform.

(Photo Credit: David Hague)
Corey Hart – (Photo Credit: David Hague)

Mark Melancon came on in the end to protect the four run lead, but struggled. Two doubles to left field, followed by a two-run homer by J.D. Martinez cut the score to 5-4.

(Photo Credit: David Hague)
Mark Melancon – (Photo Credit: David Hague)

Melancon gave up a single following the homer, but got things back on track with a 5-4-3 double play, started by Josh Harrison, and finished off the game by getting Victor Martinez to strike out swinging on a curve in the dirt.

(Photo Credit: David Hague)
Josh Harrison – (Photo Credit: David Hague)

 #RAISEIT

(Photo Credit: David Hague)
Pedro Alvarez – (Photo Credit: David Hague)
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Tim Williams
Tim Williams
Tim is the owner, producer, editor, and lead writer of PiratesProspects.com. He has been running Pirates Prospects since 2009, becoming the first new media reporter and outlet covering the Pirates at the MLB level in 2011 and 2012. His work can also be found in Baseball America, where he has been a contributor since 2014 and the Pirates' correspondent since 2019.

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