PITTSBURGH (93.7 The Fan) – With only one hit in his last six starts and the average down to .245, Pirates third baseman Ke'Bryan Hayes hit his first homer since June 11th and his first multiple hit game since June 27. All part of an 11-1 Pirates win against the Braves on Monday night.
Oh and Hayes made a couple of above average plays at third and within a step of a web gem in the eighth.
It started with Hayes being out before most of his teammates Monday despite the high temperatures to get extra reps in the field and at the plate.
"When you go out early and you put some work in," said manager Derek Shelton Monday night. "It's a good feeling. You get a knock and then all of a sudden you drive the ball to right field. We haven't seen that in a while. I think from last year, that's his bread and butter."
The single in the sixth inning broke a 1 for 25 slump at the plate. He did it with a ball through the left side even though there was a shift to that part of the field. Then the home run to the opposite field.
"I can tell you being an ex-hitting coach," Shelton said. "That's a good feeling for Ke'Bryan. That's a good feeling (for Pirates hitting coaches) Rick (Eckstein) and Christian (Marrero) because you are grinding with a guy. You go out and do some work with him and it pays off."
"Those are the kind of days that make your work worthwhile."
Not just with Hayes for a Pirates lineup collecting 14 hits to get those 11 runs.
