PITTSBURGH (93.7 The Fan) – The legend grows for John Nogowski, while a new star could be on the rise as the Pirates come back to beat the Mets 6-5 Sunday afternoon.
“That’s a heck of a way to end the first half,” said Pirates manager Derek Shelton. “We talk a lot about effort and getting after it. These guys did. We got down 5-nothing and they battled their ass off the rest of the game. It was really cool to see.”
It’s been a tough first half of the season, however in the final week beating first place Milwaukee, taking two of three from the playoff-hopeful Braves and splitting a series at the first place Mets.
“It starts with Chase,” Shelton said of the game on Sunday. “He goes out in the first and doesn’t have it; bounces back and gives us five strong. After he got through the third and he continued to execute. We fed off that. All of a sudden, we get the two homers and it’s 5-2.
Just a couple of games in the majors after a call up from AA and starting for Ke’Bryan Hayes, Rudolfo Castro starts the comeback with a solo home run to center for his second hit in the majors. Catcher Michael Perez followed with a solo homer to make it 5-2 in the fifth.
Castro made it 5-4 after his third homer in his 10th career MLB at bat in the sixth.
“Obviously two really good at bats and he ends it with homers,” Shelton said. “The one off Diaz, we are talking about one of the premiere closers in baseball and he walks off him. The play he made defensively with the double play was a huge play.”
“I think the excitement that this kid brings is important because this is something we want throughout our organization. Unbelievable day for Rudy.”
Bucs are still down a run in the ninth inning, after the eighth marred by a tough third strike call on Perez.
All-Star Adam Frazier flied out to open the ninth, Kevin Newman doubled. All-Star Bryan Reynolds grounded out advancing Newman. Then with two-outs, add another chapter to the Nogowski story. Grounding the first pitch he saw to left field scoring Newman to tie the game.
“I knew he has a good fastball,” Nogowski said of Mets reliever Edwin Diaz. “Trying to get ahead early there, so just trying to put a good swing on it. Stay short and stay quick. That guy’s stuff is elite. Not trying to do too much and just try to barrel it.”
“Just being able to select pitches, but then he comes up in the ninth and gets aggressive on a first pitch knowing what he’s going to get,” Shelton said of Nogowski. “Johnny also made a heck of a play on that pick on the back end of the double play.”
Ben Gamel, also hot recently, singled. Wilmer Difo, designated for assignment earlier and now back with the team, singled in Nogowski for the game-winning hit.
“We continue to grind and create opportunities,” Shelton said. “There are a lot of teams that down 5-0, last day of the first half, you are not going to see that effort. These guys continue to get after it and I applaud them for it.”
“It’s incredible,” Nogowski said. “That’s one of the first things I said coming over here. This team is good. This team fights. They play with a little bit of grit and a little bit of fight. That’s why I fit right in.”