PITTSBURGH (93.7 The Fan) – As Richard Rodriguez pitched another 1-2-3 ninth for his 21st straight scoreless appearance, he secured a 2-1 Pirates win over Kansas City. It also marked the first time the Pirates were above .500 since May 27, 2019.
Bryan Reynolds worked a two-out walk in the first after the first two batters struck out, got to second on a wild pitch. Colin Moran singled to center, the throw beat Reynolds, but too far up the line. 1-0 Pirates.
Royals would tie it up on a two-out single in the third as the run scored on a Tyler Anderson walk. Anderson with another impressive performance, going 6 innings, giving up 3 hits, 2 walks and 5 strikeouts.
“We threw a lot more change-ups tonight,” Anderson said. “It was better today than it’s been. Hadn’t really had good feel for that to start the year. It’s kind of a little bit better tonight.”
“I thought the change-up was good,” said manager Derek Shelton. “When you have an all right-handed lineup, the ability to execute your change-up. I thought he threw inside when he had to. He did a really good job of executing the game plan.”
Bucs would take the lead in the seventh. Jacob Stallings led off the inning with a single, then on a 1-1 count, Shelton sent Stallings and Kevin Newman hit it right where the shortstop would have been. Now first and third with one out. Wilmer Difo came in to face the reliever Scott Barlow and delivered a pinch-hit bloop single.
“My mindset was putting the ball in play,” Difo said. “I knew they wouldn’t be able to get a double play on me because I run hard and I run fast. I just needed to hit it somewhere so I could get that run in. I went up there aggressive.”
“Coming out of the box I had a feeling it would hit grass and not be catchable.”
Duane Underwood, Sam Howard and Rodriguez would combine for three scoreless in support the starter. Every Anderson start for the Pirates has been three runs or less.
“When we signed him this offseason,” Shelton said. “We knew he was a veteran guy that had the ability to do this stuff and pitched in the National League before. Tonight, to get us through six. That was outstanding.”
Left field Evans
Struggling at the plate, a natural infielder, Phillip Evans made a couple of impressive catches in left field. First in the sixth when he sprinted back quickly, turned around and found Jorge Soler’s fly ball near the warning track. Second in the seventh with a sliding catch of a Nicky Lopez line drive to end the inning.
“Phil had a couple of balls hit at him pretty hard,” Shelton said. “He had the hardest ball you can have. The ball that’s hit directly at you. He did the spin move on it and stayed with it, which is not an easy play.”
“This was a good game. If you like baseball and you like pitching. Those two guys went at it.”
Shelty’s Shirts
Shelton’s shirt supporting a local charity on Tuesday was…
Bethany Christian Services-mission is to stand up for vulnerable children, refugees and families around the world to help lift up and transform their lives. It started over 75 years ago. They have an office in Wexford, based globally in Grand Rapids, MI.
Pirates coordinator of baseball ops Trey Rose’s wife is involved in the charity.
Up Next
Final game of the series with Mitch Keller against left-handed Royals starter Mike Minor at 6:35. Pregame at 5:35 on 93.7 The Fan.