PITTSBURGH (93.7 The Fan) – After losing the lead with two outs in the seventh for the second straight game, the Pirates pick up their starter with 4 runs in the bottom of the inning for a 6-3 win in game one against the White Sox.
The tying run scored on an error, then pinch-hitter Erik Gonzalez with a two-run single and Bryan Reynolds drove in his second run of the game to give the Bucs a 3-run lead.
"I think it was one of the cooler moments since I've been managing here," said manager Derek Shelton. "They went ahead 3-2 and our fans got into the game, especially when we started that rally. It was probably as loud as they've been. It was pretty sick."
That seventh was troublesome again. Sunday, manager Derek Shelton pulled starter JT Brubaker after 76 pitches and reliever Chasen Shreve gave up the game winning hit with two outs in the seventh. Tuesday, Shelton left Tyler Anderson in with two outs and two on in the seventh and he gave up a 3-run homer to pinch-hitter Yasmani Grandal.
"I had a lot of confidence in that pitch we threw for a homer," Anderson said. "I thought it was executed, maybe could have been a little more down. Overall, I thought it was pretty good. Was able to stay efficient and throw a lot of strikes, get a lot of ground balls."
It would be a moot point as relievers David Bednar, Kyle Crick (3 strikeouts) and Richard Rodriguez would combine for 2.1 innings of scoreless, one-hit relief. For the Mars High School grad, it was a first MLB win for Bednar.
"Honestly probably nothing too crazy," Bednar said of celebrating his first win. "Might just have some ice cream later or something like that. 12:35 game tomorrow, quick turnaround."
Anderson outing
Before the home run, Anderson had pitched 6.2 scoreless innings giving up 4 hits, striking out 4 with only one walk.
"I think overall for the most part good pitches," Anderson said. "Just in general trying to stay out of the middle."
"He pitched really well," Shelton said. "He made one bad pitch to a guy that's hit a lot of homers this year. He picked us up. A really good start."
Signed to a one-year contract, Anderson's ERA is 4.82 and he's top 40 in MLB in innings pitched. The Pirates will at least entertain offers, if not trade the 31 year-old before next month's deadline. The veteran of three MLB teams, Anderson has pitched at least 5 innings in every start.
Frazier dinger
Adam Frazier hit his third home run of the season, also walked and scored in the 6th.
"I guess he (Giolito) gave me a couple, I fouled them off," Frazier said. "You fight and protect, do what you can. Hopefully he makes a mistake. I guess I got one of them."
The 29-year-old is hitting .322 and second in Major League Baseball with 89 hits and 23 doubles.
Call-ups could come
The Pirates don't have a scheduled off day now until the All-Star Break begins on July 12. With that, look for the Pirates to potentially rest a few starters and potentially call up a pitcher or multiple pitchers from the minors to get an opportunity.
"I think it's definitely something we will explore in the next 21 days," Shelton said. "It would not surprise me if you see guys get opportunities within this stretch moving forward. For our own guys getting a blow and other people getting opportunities while we are going through this."
The rest would not be limited to pitchers, you likely will see regulars get days down.
"We are going through our longest stretch of the year until the All-Star Break," Shelton added. "Most guys are above their innings of where they were last year. We are above games we played last year. There are a lot of factors that will come into play workload wise in the next 21 days."
Up Next
Final game of the less-than-24 hour series with the White Sox with RHP Chase De Jong (0-1. 4.26 ERA) making his fifth start of the season against Chicago RHP Dylan Cease (5-3. 3.99 ERA). First pitch at 12:35p Wednesday on NewsRadio KDKA 100.1 FM & AM 1020.
