PITTSBURGH (93.7 The Fan) – With Roansy Contreras going on the paternity list, the Bucs had to call up lefty Jose Hernandez before the season opener. Didn’t seem like a notable move on opening day, but wouldn’t you know Hernandez, a Rule 5 player last year, would record his first MLB save with a perfect inning in Miami as the Pirates win it 6-5 in 12 innings.
Hernandez backed up two strong innings from Luis Ortiz, as the 23-year-old got the win in relief. The right-hander helped by a pair of double plays in the 10th and 11th one with a major assist to Connor Joe who not only stopped a low and wide relay throw from Oneil Cruz in the 10th to keep the game tied, but got a second out.
In his first Opening Day, new second baseman Jared Triolo atoned for an early error with a two-out single in the 12th to score Ke’Bryan Hayes for the game-winning run.
Dinger, Dinger, Dinger
Pirates tied for their most home runs hit in a season opener since 1983 to claw back into a game they trailed 5-2.
Cruz hit an opposite field home run 105.5 miles-an-hour to tie the game in the eighth inning. Cruz hadn’t played in a major league game since April 9 of last year, his only hit the shot to left.
Cruz wasn’t the only Pirate to homer on Opening Day, Bryan Reynolds hit a two-run shot in the third. In his first at bat with the Pirates, outfielder Edward Olivares hit a pinch-hit homer run in the seventh inning.
He is only the third Pirates player to hit a pinch-hit homer in their first Bucs at-bat (John Vander Wal-2000, Eddie Pellagrini-1953). Olivares is also the third Pirate to hit a pinch-hit homer on Opening Day-Vander Wal and Nate McLouth-2007. Before Olivares, the last to homer in his Pirates debut, Ke’Bryan Hayes against the Cubs in 2020.
Keller struggles
In his second consecutive Opening Day start, Mitch Keller struggled allowing seven hits, two walks in 5.2 innings. He would allow all five runs, four were earned and struck out three. Last year in his first start at Cincinnati on March 30, Keller also gave up four earned runs in 4.2 innings with four walks and eight strikeouts. The right-hander wouldn’t give up four runs again until May 26.
Waived home
With an out in the 10th inning and Henry Davis on second base a ground ball to third was thrown away and as Josh Bell casually went after the ball, third base coach Mike Rabelo sent Davis home. Bell was able to make the throw home and it beat Davis by five steps, Davis put on the brakes and was tagged out in a rundown. A ground out would end the top of the 10th inning.
Up Next
LHP Martin Perez makes his Pirates debut against LHP AJ Puk at 7:10p in Miami. Dan Zangrilli has the North Shore Tavern Leadoff Show presented by Pella Windows starting at 6p on 93.7 The Fan.