PITTSBURGH (93.7 The Fan) – So much to take from the Pirates home opening win along with Konnor Griffin driving in the first run. How about Mitch Keller telling Pirates fans we will see you in October, plus some highlights from the 5-3 win over Baltimore Friday.
“How about that atmosphere today,” said Pirates manager Don Kelly. “That’s the most electric I’ve heard PNC, credit to the fans for the atmosphere, for the electricity. It was unbelievable.”
“That’s what it’s all about. We need to continue to earn that back.”
Konnor debut
Applause followed the 19-year-old in whatever he did. Baseball’s top prospect finished the game 1-3 with an RBI, walk and run scored.
"Just, it was awesome getting a win as well,” Griffin said. “Just the cherry on top. It was hands down one of the best days of my life."
Keller opener
With six games to start the season on the road, Mitch Keller started the Home Opener going six innings, allowing six hits, two runs, four walks and four strikeouts.
Keller got the win and allowed himself the opportunity to think about what PNC Park would be like in the playoffs.
“It was unbelievable,” Keller said. “I took a moment before the game just to look around and take it all in. It kinda felt like a playoff baseball crowd, honestly. It’s something we strive for.”
“In the walk in with Henry from the bullpen, I was like this is what we play for, let’s go have some fun. We will revisit this crowd in October when we are here.”
“Just an all around great day.”
Montgomery calms
With a run in and two runners on in the seventh inning, left-handed reliever Mason Montgomery, who came over in a trade with Tampa Bay, got cleanup hitter Adley Rutschman to ground out weakly and then struck out DH Samuel Basallo to keep the score 5-3.
Soto save
Don Kelly used a third different reliever in a save situation this year, Dennis Santana pitched a one-two-three eighth inning. Left-handed free agent signee Gregory Soto got the first two outs of the ninth, allowed a solo home run to Gunner Henderson and then finished with a strikeout of former Home Run Derby champ Pete Alonso.
"It was matchup based,” Kelly said. “Santana and Soto are both phenomenal back end guys. We're gonna see them both in both innings."
3 with struggles drive in runs
Last year for much of the season it was a struggle at the plate for Jared Triolo (.227), Oneil Cruz (.200), Henry Davis (.167). After the Griffin RBI double in the second inning, all three combined for back-to-back-to-back RBI hits in the second inning to give the Pirates a 4-0 lead.
“I thought Tony Beazley had some unbelievable sends today,” Kelly said. “Waiving guys around to score. Triolo coming back and getting the base hit and Henry driving the double, Oneil's two-strike approach and driving the ball the other way, that's the type of baseball we're gonna need to play."
ABS
The first challenge of a ball or strike in PNC Park history happened in the first inning as Bryan Reynolds challenged a strike call that was upheld. Baltimore’s Dylan Beavers contested a strike in the second inning, also upheld.
The first overturn of a strike call by the Automated Ball Strike system in PNC Park history, was by the 19-year-old. Griffin. He kept the at bat alive only to eventually strike out.
Summertime
You don’t know what you might get on an April 3rd in Pittsburgh. The 38,986 sellout crowd got a sun-splashed afternoon with a first-pitch temperature of 75 degrees.
LISTEN to postgame from Don Kelly, Mitch Keller and Konnor Griffin
