PITTSBURGH (93.7 The Fan) – Pirates head on the road after a 4-2 opening homestand, taking three of four from the Nationals including 5-3 on Sunday.
Nationals used four straight singles to take a 3-0 lead in the second. It would have been more if not for the first of several star defensive plays by the Pirates defense as third baseman Michael Chavis dove to his right to keep a ball from going down the line with runners on first and second.
"That was a hell of a throw by Diego," said Pirates Manager Derek Shelton. "Ben did a nice job getting to it. Diego with the strike, Perez made a nice play. All around it was a good baseball play."
"Bell is not a fast runner," said Pirates catcher Roberto Perez. "I think Gamel did a good job of not panicking. He got it to Diego and Diego made a very nice throw home. That changed the game. It was the play of the game. We came back and scored three and that was it."
"We practice that a lot," Castillo said. "Gamel knows how to play left field and he runs so quick and I tell him 'give me the ball, give me the ball'. That moment start to jumping 'let's go, this is the moment'."
"We took advantage of that play and started the rally. That's baseball right there."
Bucs got on the board in the sixth as Diego Castillo grounded out scoring Daniel Vogelbach and Ben Gamel with a two-out, opposite field single to make it 3-2.
Josh Bell dropped a two-out single in the seventh followed by Maikel Franco lining one into the left field corner. Washington Third Base Coach Gary DiSarcina aggressive sending Josh Bell all the way, but Gamel with a perfect relay to Castillo and then home to Roberto Perez to cut down Bell to keep it 3-2.
Bucs would load the bases in the bottom of the inning, veteran reliever Steve Cishek threw a wild pitch allowing Cole Tucker to score to tie it and then Chavis' single drove home Josh VanMeter to give the Bucs the lead. Yoshi Tsutsugo initially called out on a double play to end the inning, it was overturned by replay allowing a fifth Bucs run.
Jose Quintana would start giving up the three runs in four innings. Scoreless work from the Pirates bullpen.
· Wil Crowe—2.2 innings, two hits, a walk and a strikeout. No earned runs allow this season
· Heath Hembree—1.1 innings, a hit, a walk, a strikeout & got the win
· David Bednar—got his first save of the season, pitching a scoreless ninth
Pirates have come back to win all five games this season.
Sunday Lineup
It seems to have been coined by Jim Leyland with the Pirates in the 80s of the 'Sunday lineup'. It often was a number of backups. There was a 'Sunday lineup' for the Pirates on Easter including players in new, or seldomly used, positions
CF-Jake Marisnick
· Makes his first start as a Pirate in centerfield as Bryan Reynolds sits
DH-Daniel Vogelbach
· 1st time batting in the two-hole after primarily the lead-off hitter
3B-Michael Chavis
· 1st game with Pirates at third and only the ninth time of his MLB career
SS-Diego Castillo
· Shortstop for 1st time in MLB career
RF-Cole Tucker
· With an opportunity at SS, Tucker remains an outfielder
2B-Josh Vanmeter
· Starting just his third career game with the Bucs
"We are going to play our group," Shelton said. "We have 14 position players and the guys came through. VanMeter with the big hit and Marisnick played really well in centerfield. We've said we are going to play our group and we did."
"To be able to get a victory with those two guys (Reynolds and Hayes) on the bench was really important."
Newman ready
Shortstop Kevin Newman had missed the last couple of games with a mild groin injury. GM Ben Cherington said on 93.7 The Fan and the Pirates Radio Network Newman had good work on the field and in the training room on Sunday and is expected to be ready to return Monday as the road trip starts in Milwaukee. The 28-year-old is tied for the team lead in doubles (3) and RBI (5).
Up Next
The first of three games in Milwaukee on Monday at 7:40p. RHP Zach Thompson (0-0, 4.50 ERA) vs. LHP Eric Lauer (0-0, 6.23 ERA). North Shore Tavern leadoff show at 6:40 on 93.7 The Fan.
