DETROIT – Trevor Williams is a pitcher by trade but might have a future as a marketer. He had a message for the fans Wednesday night after the Pirates played yet another close game.
“Come out to PNC Park and you get more than you pay for,” he said with a grin. “You get free baseball.”
The Pirates have gone into extra innings in six of their 16 games, including beating the Tigers 3-2 in 10 innings to sweep the two-game series at Comerica Park. The Pirates won for the ninth time in 12 games, improving their record to 10-6.
The Pirates have played more extra-inning games than any team in Major League Baseball. It is also the first time in franchise history, which dates to 1887, that they have gone extras six times in the first 16 games of a season.
“It’s good for us, especially early in the year, to have these contests,” said Williams, who allowed two runs (both earned) in six innings. “It’s been stressful watching it when my part of the game is over. It’s been stressful watching it from the dugout. We’ve been very resilient this year. We’ve been playing a lot of extra-inning ballgames and we’ve been winning a lot of extra-inning ballgames.”
Furthermore, three-quarters – 12 -- of their games have been decided by one or two runs. The Pirates won both games of the series with the Tigers in 10 innings.
“It’s a grind, but I think the clubhouse we’ve got is a good clubhouse for that,” said Colin Moran, who singled in the winning run. “We’ve got a bunch of grinders, a lot of guys who have had to fight for where they are in their careers but also guys with a lot of talent. Obviously, it’s a welcome challenge when you play in close games every day because it means you’re in every game and you’ve got a chance to win. It’s been a lot of fun. We’ve been doing a good job of keeping games close and coming through.”
Moran helped the Pirates grind out this win when his hit up the middle with none out in the 10th off Buck Farmer snapped a 2-2 tie. Adam Frazier scored the winning run after he led off the inning with a double and moved to third on Starling Marte’s single.
Josh Bell had tied the score with a sacrifice fly in the eighth.
Clint Hurdle believes playing some close games in April can add a layer of toughness to his team that will come in useful as the Pirates get into the heart of their schedule and what figures to be an ultra-competitive race in the National League Central.
“I do think they help your team understand that every pitch counts,” he said. “It heightens your awareness. We’ve had some disappointments, but we stay in the hunt. That builds confidence.”
Of course, playing on tight terms seemingly every day can make it tough on a manager. The game can turn on every move Hurdle or his counterpart makes, though he doesn’t mind after 17 years of being a major-league skipper.
“You’ve got to enjoy the competition,” he said. “I’ve been fortunate to do this for a while. In these games, (the players) look for some direction, look for some leadership. I believe all good managers need to show up best when the team is not at its best, or if you’re having some adversity or different challenges. That’s one thing I learned from the (managers) I’ve played for and worked for, and that’s what I try to do as well.”
THE ESSENTIALS
• Boxscore
THE GOOD
The bullpen has had its struggles in the late innings with six blown saves already this season. That is partially the reason for the Pirates playing in so many tight games.
However, Kyle Crick, Richard Rodriguez, Nick Burdi and Felipe Vazquez followed Williams with one scoreless inning each. Burdi (2-1) got the win and Vazquez notched his fifth save in as many opportunities.
Crick, Rodriguez and Burdi did not allow a baserunner. Vazquez gave up a leadoff single to JaCoby Jones in the 10th but retired the last three batters, including Miguel Cabrera to end it.
The relievers threw 42 pitches, just over 10 an inning, leading Hurdle to say they were “clean and efficient.”
THE BAD
Francisco Cervelli’s slump continued as he went 0-for-5. He is hitless in his last 24 at-bats, dropping his average to .164.
Hurdle moved Cervelli from third to sixth in the batting order to try to get him going, but it didn’t work. Hurdle believes his catcher needs to show more patience at the plate.
“His batting average usually correlates with his on-base percentage,” Hurdle said. “When he’s taking his walks, he’s a better hitter. Sometimes, guys try to swing their way out of slumps, and I think that’s what he is trying to do.”
Hurdle, though, says Cervelli is still adding value.
“He’s been masterful working with the pitchers. He has not allowed his offense to leak into that part of his game.”
THE OTHER SIDE
The rebuilding Tigers lost their fifth game in a row to fall to 8-9, but a bright spot was the performance of rookie right-hander Spencer Turnbull.
Making his seventh career start, Turnbull limited the Pirates to one unearned run and two hits in six innings. He had five strikeouts and two walks.
"I was pretty happy with myself, although I had one stretch in the middle that wasn't good," Turnbull said. "I was able to get it back, though. I was sailing a few pitches, but I made an adjustment and pretty much started hitting my spots again."
THE DATA
• Williams has had quality starts in all four outings this season but has just one win, despite a 2.59 ERA.
• Williams has a 1.51 ERA in 17 starts since last July 11, the best mark in the major leagues among pitchers with at least 80 innings pitched.
• Marte extended his streak of reaching base in interleague games to 22, but he did it the hard way: He was hit on the left ear flap of his batting helmet by a 94-mph fastball from Joe Jimenez in the eighth inning but stayed in the game.
• The Pirates have won 17 of 22 interleague games since the beginning of last season and are 75-47 against American League teams since the start of the 2013 season, best among National League teams in that span.
• The Pirates have won six games in a row at Comerica Park, dating to 2017.
THE INJURIES
• Gregory Polanco, outfielder, is recovering from left shoulder surgery and is on a rehab assignment at Triple-A Indianapolis. He is 4-for-12 with four RBIs, two stolen bases, two walks and four strikeouts in three games. In four games with High-A Bradenton, he was 2-for-13 with one RBI, four walks and two strikeouts.
• Corey Dickerson, outfielder, has a strained right shoulder. He began playing catch Tuesday but the expectation is for him to be out until late April/early May.
• Elias Diaz, catcher, is recovering from a virus and is on a rehab assignment at Indianapolis. He is 11-for-25 with three doubles and four RBIs, one walk and three strikeouts in six games. In two games with Bradenton, Diaz was 2-for-5 with two doubles, two RBIs, one stolen base, two walks and one strikeout.
• Lonnie Chisenhall, outfielder, is out with a broken right hand and could begin a rehab assignment this weekend with Indianapolis.
• Kevin Newman, infielder, has a lacerated right ring finger and is throwing and hitting, though there is no timetable for his return.
• Jose Osuna, first baseman/outfielder, is in extended spring training in Bradenton, Fla. and participating in all baseball activities.
• Chad Kuhl and Edgar Santana, right-handed pitchers, are recovering from Tommy John at extended spring training and are throwing on flat ground at 120 feet.
THE SCHEDULE
Thursday, the Pirates will have their second off day in the last four before hosting the Giants at 7:05 Friday night at PNC Park in the opener of a three-game series. Jordan Lyles (1-0, 0.82) will face left-hander Madison Bumgarner (1-2, 3.12). Hunter Homistek will have all the coverage, and I'll be back Saturday.
THE COVERAGE
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