Adam Frazier had 3 hits and scored 2 runs, Erik Gonzalez added 2 hits and drove in 2 runs, Colin Moran knocked in the go-ahead run in the eighth inning and Mitch Keller turned in his best start of 2021 as the Pirates beat the Tigers, 4-2, to take 2 of 3 games in Detroit.
"Well played game, started by Mitch," manager Derek Shelton opened, "We talk about steps going forward, no walks today, command of the zone, gave up the solo home run and back-to-back extra base hits but really filled up the zone, much better outing."
The Bucs have won/split their last four series' and are now only one game under .500 after a 1-6 start.
Not there was much competition to qualify as Keller's best start of the season, but this was more like the Mitch Keller that people were expecting to see and the Pirates need to see. He started out with a 1-2-3 first inning and ended up allowing 2 runs on 5 hits over 5 innings in all.
"Just going out there with the mentality to filling it up and using my fastball to all quadrants of the strike zone I think really helped me navigate the line-up there," Keller said. "Having that confidence that if I fell behind 1-0 or 2-0, my stuff was going to play whether it was down or up, just being able to throw the ball where I wanted to was huge."
As Shelton mentioned, extra base hits were a problem but since Keller didn't walk anybody that helped minimize any damage. The first run scored on a double and a triple with 2 outs in the second inning and a solo home run by JaCoby Jones in the fifth which tied the game, 2-2.
Jones also hurt the Bucs in the field, robbing Todd Frazier of extra bases leading off the seventh but Phil Evans, playing left field, returned the favor by keeping Akil Baddoo's long fly ball in the ballpark in the bottom of the inning.
The Pirates scored their runs in the first and eighth innings. Frazier led off the game with a double, scored on a single by Bryan Reynolds who advanced to second on an infield out then scored on Erik Gonzalez' single.
The same crew was involved in the game-winning rally in the eighth. Frazier singled with 1 out and moved into scoring position with 2 outs on a wild pitch. After Reynolds walked, Moran broke the tie with seeing-eye single through the left side then Gonzalez singled home an insurance run.
Shelton enjoyed the display of some opportunistic small ball. "I thought we ran the bases really well," the manager said, "Frazier on the dirt ball read, Reynolds going first to third, a lot of good things that happened."
Once again, the bullpen was close to flawless. Duane Underwood, Jr., Sam Howard, Chris Stratton and Richard Rodriguez combined for 4 shutout innings. Howard picked up the victory – his second of the season - after he worked out of Underwood's 1st and 3rd jam in the seventh inning. "We have confidence in everybody (in the bullpen) right now," praised Frazier, "I love the way they're attacking the zone."
It's the third save for Rodriguez who has allowed just 1 hit and 1 walk in 8 appearances this season.
The Bucs are 4-2 on the road trip so far with 3 more games against the hard-hitting Twins starting Friday in Minnesota. JT Brubaker is scheduled to start against former Pirate short-timer J.A. Happ.
Keller – "Just going out there with the mentality to filling it up and using my fastball to all quadrants of the strike zone I think really helped me navigate the line-up there."
Having that confidence that if I fell behind 1-0 or 2-0, I don't think it happened many times, but being confident that my stuff was going to play whether it was down or up just being to throw the ball where I wanted to was huge."
The Pirates continue to find ways even with third baseman Ke'Bryan Hayes continued absence on the field. He re-aggravated his wrist injury and is heading back to Pittsburgh for more evaluation.
The outfield also continues to be in flux with Dustin Fowler being DFA'ed on Thursday and Anthony Alford on Wednesday.
