There have been many games this year where the Pittsburgh Pirates would have been essentially finished after going down 5-0 in the early innings.
Friday night was not one of those nights.
Bailey Falter allowed four runs in the fourth inning, after a two out homer in the first. The lefty worked off a fastball/slider combo, using each pitch 44% of the time out of his 79 pitches. Falter pitched one more inning, getting through five, without the offense getting on the board.
That’s when the offense showed up for their own big inning.
Joey Bart led off the fifth with a single. He moved to third on a single by Rowdy Tellez. Bryan De La Cruz delivered his 22nd double of the season to knock in the first run, putting runners at first and third. Tellez scored on a Billy McKinney groundout, and De La Cruz scored on a Jared Triolo single. The final run of the inning was a result of a throwing error that allowed Triolo to move to third, with Isiah Kiner-Falefa bringing him in on a groundout.
The Pirates were still down 5-4. The offense didn’t stop.
Oneil Cruz led off the sixth with a ground-rule double off a lefty, continuing his improved hitting against left-handers. He scored the tying run on an RBI single from Bart. Once again, Bart moved to third on a Tellez single, and once again, De La Cruz brought in the run, this time with a sacrifice fly.
With the Pirates up 6-5, the bullpen took over. Dennis Santana pitched a scoreless sixth inning, putting him in position for the win. He also returned to pitch a scoreless seventh, finishing his night with one hit and two strikeouts in two scoreless frames.
Aroldis Chapman allowed a walk and a hit, but struck out the side in the eighth. David Bednar allowed a leadoff double and a two out walk, but got Elly De La Cruz to line out to save the game.
The win was the second in as many nights over the Reds, with the Pirates improving to 61-67.
Rehab Continues Going Well For Gonzales
Nick Gonzales played his first complete game of his rehab stint in Indianapolis, working as the designated hitter on Friday night. Gonzales picked up two hits and walked twice.
In his previous starts, Gonzales played in the field at second base, going 5.5 and 7.5 innings in his progressive buildup. He’s recorded a hit in all three games.
A Minor League System Led By Pitching
The Pirates have become a pitching factory. Their best prospect stories in the Majors this year have been pitchers, and their best prospects remaining in the minors are pitchers. On Friday, I looked at the best performing pitchers in the Pirates’ system.
READ: The Best Performing Pitchers in the Pittsburgh Pirates Minor League System
This follows a less-glowing report on the best performing hitters, which displays a big reason why this system is ranked in the bottom-third in the league.
READ: The Best Performing Hitters in the Pittsburgh Pirates Minor League System
Pirates Prospect Watch
Friday was a great night in the minor league system. Thomas Harrington carried a perfect game into the sixth, and allowed one run in six innings, with six strikeouts. Carlson Reed and Alessandro Ercolani combined for one hit in a shutout effort in Greensboro, with 16 total strikeouts. In the same game, Termarr Johnson homered, doubled, and stole a base. Read about all of Friday’s minor league action in the latest Pirates Prospect Watch.
READ: Thomas Harrington Leads a Great Night in the Minor Leagues
