PITTSBURGH (93.7 The Fan) – A 26th straight game under five runs, tying a Major League Baseball record, however the Pirates get enough to support another outstanding pitching performance for a 3-1 win over Cincinnati Wednesday afternoon.
Mr. Heaney
33-year-old free agent starter Andrew Heaney continues to shine for the Pirates, going five innings against Cincy allowing only three hits and a run walking two and striking out four. The ERA is now 2.91 for the season after 10 starts. He has a .206 batting average against and 1.13 WHIP striking out 42 and walking 21 over 55.2 innings. In his last three starts, the lefty has allowed four runs in 16 innings.
“We won, it was kind of a grindy one from the get,” Heaney said. “Just trying to give us innings and keep us in it.”
"I think we saw today Heaney a little bit at the beginning was, maybe not necessarily not throwing strikes, he was, he just didn't get ahead right away," said Pirates manager Don Kelly. "Steer had a long at bat there that drove his pitch count up and then ended up getting a base hit. I think that when you look at those types of at bats, it can take it out of you. For him to be able to stay in there and finish the fourth and fifth as strong as he did put the team in position to win and put himself in a position to win and that's what veteran pitchers do."
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Chase Shugart, Tanner Rainey, Caleb Ferguson and Dennis Santana combined for four scoreless innings out of the bullpen. Santana earning his fifth save of the season.
Reynolds improving
Bryan Reynolds drove in a run with a sacrifice fly to center in the first inning, that’s four RBI in his last five games. Reynolds also has been on base in five of his last six games.
That being said, Reynolds and Alexander Canario were the only Pirates starter not to reach base. Adam Frazier had a pair of hits including an RBI single in the eighth inning. Tommy Pham also had two hits, Ke’Bryan Hayes scored a pair of runs.
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Henry RBI
The run driven in by Henry Davis in the fourth inning was his fourth of the season and second in his last three games. Davis had a pair of hits to raise his average to .190.
“Coming back after that tough game on Monday night and the way that we played the last two nights,” Kelly said. “Obviously, we talked about the starting pitching is key to that, but finding ways to scratch out runs. And Bryan had a huge hit last night. Today, being able to push three across with some big hits. Want to keep that going.”
Up Next
The Pirates open a four-game series with the Brewers Thursday night with Mike Burrows making his season debut and second MLB start. The right-hander was 2-1 with a 2.51 ERA in AAA in nine starts this year. The Brewers have not yet announced their starter. Dan Zangrilli starts the North Shore Tavern Leadoff Show at 5:45 on 93.7 The Fan.
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Friday is a great pitching matchup between Paul Skenes and Brewers righty Freddy Peralta at 6:40p.