PITTSBURGH (93.7 The Fan) – A decision by Pirates manager Derek Shelton had fans booing as the Pirates fell short of a first home sweep of the Indians since 2001. Final, 2-1 Cleveland.
Here is why the fans were upset.
Game tied at one with two outs in the seventh inning, Pirates manager Derek Shelton pulled starter JT Brubaker with a runner at second. The righty had not given up a hit until the fifth inning, allowed three total. Brubaker had tied a career-high with nine strikeouts and had thrown 76 pitches, 59 for strikes.
“It was all about the match-up,” Shelton said. “JT did a heck of a job. He threw the ball extremely well, was extremely efficient. We went into that inning, if we had a guy on base and we had the left-hander there. We were going to Shreve.”
Lefty Chasen Shreve, who did have a 1.84 ERA in 16 previous appearances, gave up a RBI single to the first batter he faced, Josh Naylor, as Cleveland took the lead for good.
“I knew it was a situational pull, trying to get left on left matchup,” Brubaker said. “Shreve got the ground ball. It just had some eyes.”
“Shrever came in and got a ground ball that went through,” Shelton said. “That was 100% my decision. It didn’t work out.”
“Shreve has been so good for us, Naylor just hit a ground ball that found a hole,” said catcher Jacob Stallings. “I thought the pitch was pretty well executed.”
“There’s probably other times in my career where I’ve wanted the starter to stay in selfishly. I felt good about the way Brubaker threw the ball and bringing Shreve in in that spot.”
The fans disagreed, booing the decision while it was made and again after the Indians took the lead.
“The fact they are passionate is good,” Shelton said of the reaction. “They wanted him to stay in the game. I understand that. I made the decision that I thought was the best decision for us at the time. The fact, they are passionate. I love that.”
The Pirates offense was limited to seven hits, just one extra base hit, a double that was a gift on a dropped pop-up. Stallings drove in the only run, knocking in Adam Frazier with a two-out single.
Davis back
Recalled when Sam Howard landed on the 10-day injured list, lefty Austin Davis made his second Pirates appearance on Sunday. The 28-year-old acquired 10 months ago from the Phillies rebounded after an opening walk. Davis would strike out Eddie Rosario and get a pair of Ramirez’s on a pair of pop-outs.
Up Next
Pirates have their final off day until the All-Star Break on Monday, hosting the Chicago White Sox for a two-game series starting Tuesday night at 7:05 on 93.7 The Fan.