PITTSBURGH (93.7 The Fan) –Mitch Keller stepped up when his team really needed Sunday as the Pirates beat Tampa Bay 6-3 taking two of three in the series.
“It was huge,” said Pirates manager Don Kelly. “Honestly, probably the biggest start of the year with where our bullpen was at. For him to be as strong as he was and get the W for the team, it was unbelievable. Just the way he attacked the zone and mixed up pitches, he did a great job.”
Really, every start is important. Every start you want to go seven strong giving your team a chance to win. But the Pirates used six relievers in a 13-inning game the day into long night on Saturday, and Keller gave up two runs on five hits with no walks and five strikeouts.
“Huge, it’s not something that I’m thinking about before the game, I’m just going to try and pitch my game and whatever happens, happens,” Keller said. “I’m glad I could do that for us and our offense put us in a position where we didn’t have to use any of our back-end bullpen guys.”
Keller said he was able to use the whole mix of pitches today and even some more four-seam fastball than usual to keep Tampa Bay off balance.
“If you’re paying attention, we know we used a lot of arms yesterday – and so did they,” said Pirates catcher Joey Bart. “I think starting pitching was the key today; whoever’s starter did better, the chances of that team were going to win. That was Mitch today. Giving us seven after just a dreadful day – unfortunately, coming out on the bottom of that one – but it shows a lot about the team for bouncing back. We busted it all through that game yesterday and brought some of that energy into today and made it happen.”
The five K’s ties Keller with Deacon Phillippe for 10th place on the Pirates all-time strikeout list.
Offense
After leaving runners in scoring position in the first, third and fourth innings, Nick Gonzales and Bryan Reynolds with RBI hits in the fifth to give the Bucs the lead at 4-2.
Spencer Horwitz delivered his second career pinch-hit home run in the sixth and Nick Yorke also hit a solo home run in the eighth, his first of the season.
“Our offense has been really good,” Reynolds said. “You know, for a couple of days we didn’t get the big hit, but this is a good offense, and we’re going to score runs.”
Up Next
Pirates are off Monday and then a three-game series at the Texas Rangers and Andrew McCutchen before playing three at Milwaukee. After beginning in the second inning in his last outing, Carmen Mlodzinski will start Tuesday night at 8:05. Dan Zangrilli has the North Shore Tavern Leadoff Show at 7:10 on 93.7 The Fan.
“Yeah, it'll be different, man,” Kelly said of facing McCutchen. “I think the world of him and excited for the opportunity he has there. It'll be good to catch up with him.”
Reaction as Bucs take 2 of 3 from Tampa Bay
Reaction as Bucs take 2 of 3 from Tampa Bay
