Frazier, Harrison forming deadly pairing at top of the order

ATLANTA — Few have a better view of Adam Frazier's development at the plate than the man who stands in the on-deck circle waiting to follow him in the order.

Like many Pirates, Josh Harrison is no longer surprised to see what the do-it-all left-handed hitter can accomplish. That doesn't make it any less memorable when Frazier has an at-bat like he did in the Pirates' 9-4 victory over the Braves Thursday afternoon to earn a series split.

Frazier belted a three-run homer in the second inning to spot Ivan Nova the lead, and Harrison said he is benefitting greatly from the 25-year-old leadoff hitter's emergence.



"There are times where he’ll be aggressive, and times where he’ll work the count," Harrison, who bats second behind Frazier, said Thursday afterward. "I think other teams know that he and I back-to-back are two guys that will put the ball in play and work at-bats in certain situations. If we can both get on base, at least one of us will do damage. He’s doing a good job setting the tone, and I’m trying to just come right behind him and keep the line moving."

They're doing it quite often, too. Frazier is batting .397 in 18 games in the leadoff spot with three doubles, two home runs and 15 RBI. He went 2-for-2 with a three-run homer and four walks Wednesday night, and broke open the scoring Thursday with this shot to right off Bartolo Colon, who is 19 years older than him:



When asked how many hitters he's witnessed like Frazier, Harrison said, "Very few. That's pretty much all I've got; very few."

The Pirates lost their usual No. 2 hitter when Starling Marté was suspended 80 games testing positive for a performance-enhancing substance, but Harrison has made a seamless transition to that spot in the order.

After going 3-for-4 with a walk on Thursday, Harrison is now batting .367 in the No. 2 spot and went 10-for-20 during the series, delivering two RBI in the final two games to help the Pirates earn a split.

He had a two-run single in the seven-run 10th inning Wednesday, and scored the Pirates' eighth run Thursday after lining a one-out single to right-center field. Despite Andrew McCutchen and Gregory Polanco being held out, the Pirates managed 18 runs over the final 11 innings of the series. The two men at the top of the order had a large hand in that.

"That’s what sets everything up," Clint Hurdle said of Frazier and Harrison. "When you get a couple guys at the top of the lineup that find ways to get on base your opportunities to score get enhanced."

Frazier is now batting .416 with two doubles, two home runs and a 1.105 OPS in 13 games played since returning from the disabled list on May 13, and his .547 OBP since then is the best in Major League Baseball.

What's impressed his teammates the most is a professional approach that shows experience beyond his years. Frazier, a native of Bishop, Ga., had every reason to be elated after hitting a pair of three-run homers in front of a large group of family and friends against the team he cheered for as a child, but he was far from pleased Thursday afternoon.

He finished the series with a 1-for-5 performance that included three groundouts to second base.

"Outside of today I’ve been keeping inside the zone and staying inside the ball pretty good and not getting big," Frazier said with a smile.

His performance Wednesday night, though, demonstrated how strong he is in the box. Frazier hit his three-run homer in an 0-2 count, and he is now batting .323 when facing an 0-2 count during his career. Few are happier to see his breakthrough than the man with a clear view of each at-bat.

"It’s nice, man," Harrison said of watching Frazier at the plate. "He stays short. Has an approach that everyone talks about when you’re at the plate. You want to stay short and direct to the ball. He seems to do it everyday. It’s nice to be behind him to see it."