No one is going to be confusing him with Angels two-way star Shohei Ohtani just yet, but JT Brubaker will take it.
Brubaker drove in three runs at the plate and tossed a solid outing on the mound to lead the Pirates over the Cubs, 7-1, Sunday at PNC Park.
In a game similar to Saturday's 8-2 Pirates win, Pittsburgh fell behind early before rifling off a big 2nd inning, as Brubaker came through with a two-run single down the right field line to give the Bucs a 3-1 lead.
"I'm just wanting to swing the bat any chance I can get to swing it," he said. "We had runners on second and third with less than two (outs) and, really, in my mind I was just wanting to put the ball in play to get an RBI and help myself out. Luckily, I was able to put it down the first base line and keep it fair."
Brubaker later picked up his third RBI on a fielder's choice.
"Any time you get your pitcher to contribute offensively, it's a really good thing," Pirates manager Derek Shelton said.
That was all the support he needed. Brubaker threw 5 1/3 innings, allowing just an earned run on four hits. He struck out four, walked one and hit two batters, picking up his first victory of the season.
Brubaker, postgame, highlighted his ability to stay away from issuing free passes.
"It means a lot, really," he said. "Just getting outs in the zone, that's been the goal for our entire staff. Let's attack hitters and get outs in the zone. As long as we can continue to carry that mentality, that's what it's going to look like for multiple series."
The win feels important for the Pirates. After starting the year 1-6, including a 13-run loss and a 7-run loss in Cincinnati, Pittsburgh outscored the Cubs 15-3 over the last two games, picking up a series victory for the first time in 2021.
"It brings the mood way up," Brubaker said. "We haven't been down on ourselves by any means the year. Those two games in Cincinnati, we washed them. We played them tight, played Chicago tight on opening day and we've put up runs these last two games. That's where our team is and that's what our team can do."
Team Effort
On top of the three RBI from Brubaker, the Pirates saw every player in the lineup reach base, and all but one pick up a hit.
Bryan Reynolds played a significant role. Despite not scoring or driving in a run, the Pirates' left fielder racked up his third four-hit game of his career, lifting his batting average to .324.
Phillip Evans upped his average to .393 with a 2-for-5 game, Jacob Stallings reached base three times, and Wilmer Difo drilled his first career pinch hit home run into the right field stands in the seventh inning, a two-run shot that put the game away.
Bednar in the 9th
With 'Renegade' by Styx — the popular Steelers fight song — blaring through PNC Park, Pittsburgh native David Bednar entered the game in the ninth and pitched a 1-2-3 inning.
Bednar has appeared in five games this season and not allowed a hit in four of them. And his velocity has ticked up of late.
"He may have a little adrenaline flowing through him coming out of the bullpen at PNC when you're a hometown kid," Shelton said. "But he's doing a nice job. He's throwing strikes, he has velocity and he is going at hitters, which I think is important."
Cherington Talks Hayes
Pirates general manager Ben Cherington provided another update on rookie third baseman Ke'Bryan Hayes during his pregame radio show Sunday.
Cherington revealed that Hayes has not picked up a bat yet as he works back from a wrist injury.
"We're just not going to rush this," Cherington said, reiterating what Shelton has said on multiple occasions. "He's going to tell us when he feels good enough to start swinging a bat, which will then dictate the pace of the return… I don't have a firm timeline, but we still feel good about the prognosis."
Ponce Close
Cherington also added that pitcher Cody Ponce is nearing a return, having thrown two bullpen sessions of late. Up next will be a two-inning sim game in Bradenton.
The goal for Ponce, it seems, is for him to be available to be used in long relief or as a starting pitcher later this year.
"We need to continue to maintain and add a much tarting pitching depth as we can," Cherington added. "We know this is going to be a long season and we see Cody as being a part of that."
Up Next
The Pirates will welcome the San Diego Padres for a three-game series starting Monday at 6:35 PM. Pittsburgh will face three solid starting pitchers in Yu Darvish, Blake Snell and former Pirate Joe Mugrove, who will be coming off the first no-hitter in Padres history.
