PITTSBURGH (93.7 The Fan) - Pirates rack up nine runs on fifteen hits as they win their first of 2022, 9-4 over the Cardinals Sunday.
What started off as a rough first inning after Nolan Arenado hit a two-run homer for the Cardinals to make it 3-0, the Pirates third inning helped them push past the Red Birds.
Michael Chavis got his first start of 2022 in a Pirates uniform and hit a grand slam off Steven Matz. It was part of a five run fifth inning for the Bucs.
“The grand slam got us on the board and showed the fact we lost the first two games that we’re going to continue to go, and we went throughout the game,” said manager Derek Shelton.
Chavis went three-for-four in the game with the four RBI’s from the grand slam. Diego Castillo continued to swing a hot bat as he had three hits in five at bats. Jake Marisnick got his first start as a Pirate and had a good day at the plate going two-for-five with an RBI.
Starter Bryse Wilson was able to shake off the tough first inning where he gave up three runs, finishing the day pitching four innings, gave up five hits, three runs, two strikeouts and one walk.
“I was able to execute more pitches,” said Wilson. “I made some adjustments after the first inning of how we were going to sequence pitches. They jumped on the fastball a little bit early so we switched it up, pitched them a little bit backwards and it turned out to work really well.”
“I thought early in the game he was a little tentative,” said Shelton. “And then he started to get into a groove. The fastball played, he started to use the two-seamer more and I think that’s what helped out.”
Miguel Yajure pitched two innings of scoreless ball after Wilson was taken out of the game after the fourth inning and earned his first Major League win.
The Pirates look for a series split with the Cardinals tomorrow afternoon at 2:15 as Zach Thompson will face Dakota Hudson.