PITTSBURGH (93.7 The Fan) – Riding a six-game losing streak, the first place Brewers opened a four-game series at PNC Park on Monday. Wouldn't you know so many of those things the team had struggled with, got better in a 4-2 Pirates win.
Jared Jones performance was likely the star of the game, but there were so many other facets to the win that had struggled previously. Here are a look at some of them with reaction.
Oneil Cruz
• It's Cruz's second, three-hit game of the season and it matches the number of hits he's had in the last nine games combined.
"Like I said, it's a process," Cruz said. "Today, it was a really good day. It's gonna get better for sure. It feels really good to just be able to hit that ball and drive in two runs."
"I think the biggest thing – you look at the base hit Cruz got, which ended up being the game-winning base hit, left on left – and even Jack (Suwinski) before that – we put the ball in play," said manager Derek Shelton. "We moved the ball forward."
Andrew McCutchen
• Hitting just .173 coming into the game, Andrew McCutchen was asked to be the lead-off hitter on Monday. He led off with a home run as part of a three-hit night
"Hey, as long as I'm playing, that's all that matters," McCutchen said. "I don't care about where I'm playing or where I hit. As long as I'm in there, doing my job, trying to help the team. So, hit me leadoff, hit me ---I don't care, it's fine."
"Sometimes when you go through challenging times, a little stability helps," Shelton said. "He was stable for us right from the get-go, 3 for 4 and I think the other ball he hit right on the screws to third. So, really good at-bats to him today. Like we talked about pregame yesterday, I thought he had two of his better at-bats, his better swings that he's had in the last 10 days."
Defense
• A diving catch by Jack Suwinski rushing in on a looping liner from Sal Frelick in the third inning as the 6'7" Cruz was running towards Suwinski
• Diving stop by 2B Alika Williams in the seventh inning with one out as he threw out Jackson Chourio from his knees.
Opportunities
• Bucs took advantage of a big Milwaukee error by Rhys Hoskins to score three unearned runs in the seventh inning
Young arm
• After Aroldis Chapman walked the bases full in the eighth inning, Hunter Stratton, who had a 5.71 ERA in AAA in 2022, came on to get a pair of ground balls to get out of the inning.
"There are two things you can say about Strat, number one his stuff is good," Shelton said. "He's got good stuff and number two, he's not scared, man. He came right into that situation and went right after people and that's important."
David Bednar save
• It's closer David Bednar's third save of the month/year and second scoreless outing in a row and three of the last four.
Leadoff launch
McCutchen's leadoff homer was the 23rd of his career and 11th with the Pirates which is second-most in team history. McCutchen broke a tie with Al Martin and Adam Frazier and is nine behind the record held by Barry Bonds.
Other Notes
• It was the Pirates first NL Central game of the season
• Everyone in the lineup got on base but Michael A. Taylor
• Alika Williams has hits in eight of his nine games this season
Up Next
Game two of the four game series Tuesday night at 6:40 on 93.7 The Fan. Lefties Wade Miley (0-1, 5.14 ERA) and Bailey Falter (1-1, 4.05 ERA) are the starting pitchers, Dan Zangrilli starts the North Shore Tavern Leadoff Show presented by Pella Windows at 5:45.
