PITTSBURGH (93.7 The Fan) – It’s what keeps teams from enduring losing streaks, quality starting pitching. A day after blowing a game late, Roansy Contreras took a no-hitter into the sixth and the Bucs broke it open with five runs in the seventh inning for an 8-1 win over the Dodgers.
Contreras said he put in a lot of hard work this offseason. He ended up giving up two hits and struck out five against LA.
“I give Ro a ton of credit because last year we sent him down because we had to monitor his pitches,” said Pirates manager Derek Shelton. “Last year we called him up and he was the 26th guy in Cincinnati and went out and pitched really well. Then we had to send him right back down.”
“Oscar (Marin, pitching coach) had to made a trip to the Dominican this winter and when he came back he said ‘this is a different kid, man. He’s really starting to grow up.’ I give Ro a lot of credit and I give Oscar a lot of credit because I think Oscar has really helped with that process.”
Bottom 3
The seven, eight and nine hitters combined for eight hits, four runs, six RBI, four stolen bases. Rodolfo Castro went 2-4with a pair of RBI and runs scored. Ji Hwan Bae stole three more bases, his second consecutive multi-steal night ending with three hits. Catcher Jason Delay drove in three runs on three hits and is hitting .368 for the season.
Offensive notes
· On the day he signed his eight-year contract, Bryan Reynolds drove in the first run with a single in the fifth, his 19th RBI of the month
· Andrew McCutchen drove in a run, the 1015th of his career tying him with Ralph Kiner and Rod Carew on the all-time list. He recently passed Dusty Baker and Wade Boggs.
· Jack Suwinski got on base three times (hit and two walks)
MLB Debut
After 1,155 games and 4,494 plate appearances in the minors, 33-year-old Pirates infielder Drew Maggi made his Major League debut Wednesday night. A 47th round pick of the Arizona Diamondbacks in 2008, the Phoenix native struck out swinging to a mostly standing ovation from the home fans in appreciation for his journey.
Roster Moves
· He went two years without pitching in competitive games (COVID/knee injury), right-hander Cody Bolton called up to the majors. Shelton said it was time to get him to the big leagues as he’s transitioned to being a multi-inning reliever after beginning his career as a starter. He pitched 11.1 innings over eight appearances at AAA this year with a 2.38 ERA with 14 strikeouts to two walks. Bolton said he arrived at the ballpark five minutes before the game, imagine this, he got stuck in traffic in Pittsburgh.
· Wil Crowe (0-1, .466 ERA, 9-K, 9-BB) went on the IL with right shoulder discomfort.
· Reynolds returned from the Bereavement List
· OF Canaan Smith-Njigba (.125, 2B, 3B, 5-RBI) was sent back to AAA. Shelton said he deserved to be on the club out of Spring Training, but other players have performed better and he needed to go down and get at bats.
“The strongest message to him was I think he's really going to help us this year and I think he's going to be a good big-league player,” Shelton said. “He helped us win the one game with the sacrifice fly, and I truly believe he's going to be a good big-league hitter. We just got to get him at bats right now and there's none here for him."
Minor Leagues
· Bucs 3rd round pick Bubba Chandler pitched 5 shutout innings striking out 9 as Greensboro won 4-1. Jase Bowen drove in his 18th run
· Bucs 20th pick in the 2021 MLB Draft, infielder Brenden Dixon hit his first AAA home run, a grand slam
Up Next
RHP Mitch Keller (2-0, 3.64 ERA) against LHP Julio Urias (3-2, 3.33 ERA) at 12:35p with the North Shore Tavern Lead-off Show with Josh Rowntree on 100.1 FM/AM 1020 KDKA at 11:30a.