MILWAUKEE – One down and 15 to go for the Pirates.
The Pirates began what could turn out to be a season-defining stretch of games Friday night by rallying for a 3-2 victory over the Brewers in the opener of a three-game series at Miller Park. You can read more about the game here.
It wasn’t the prettiest win, as the Pirates used fielder’s choices to score both the tying run in the eighth inning and the go-ahead run in the ninth. The Pirates will certainly take it as Friday began a string of 16 straight games against the three teams ahead of them in the National League Central standings.
Following this series, the Pirates come home to PNC Park on Monday for a seven-game homestand that includes four games with the Cubs and three with the Brewers. The Pirates will then have four days off for the All-Star break before playing three games each against the Cubs in Chicago and Cardinals in St. Louis.
With the season reaching the halfway point Saturday, it might be still early to call this a make-or-break stretch for the Pirates. However, it could go a long way in determining if the Pirates have any chance of winning their first division title since 1992.
The Pirates (39-41) trail the Cubs (44-38) by four games, the Brewers (43-39) by three games and the Cardinals (40-39) by 1 ½ games in the tightly bunched standings. The last-place Reds (37-42) are just 1 ½ games back of the Pirates.
If nothing else, the Pirates are hot coming into this stretch of games. Friday’s win was their third in a row and seventh in their last eight games. And they've gone 9-3 since a seven-game losing streak seemed to all but torpedo the season.
“The last 10 or so days have been huge for us,” Chris Archer said. “We’ve been slowly building and building. To see where we’re at now is very encouraging.”
Let's dig into more storylines following last night's effort:
• Kevin Newman drove in the winning run but he made history in the third inning when he connected for a solo home run off Jhouyls Chacin.
Newman ran his hitting streak to 18 games, tying the Pirates’ rookie record in the modern era (since 1900). Rennie Stennett set the mark in 1971 and Neil Walker matched it in 2010.
Here is the home run:
Though Newman was just 1 for 5 on Friday, he is hitting .378 (31 for 82) during the streak with five doubles, one triple, four homers, 11 runs scored and 15 RBIs.
“He’s squaring balls up all over the place,” Clint Hurdle said. “It’s been a really fun development for him and us. And he’s playing steady shortstop.”
Newman talked about his streak and Friday’s win:
Like most players, Newman is superstitious and doesn’t particularly like to talk about his streak. When I brought it up before Thursday’s game against the Astros in Houston, he playfully accused me of trying to jinx him.
Newman then hit a home run on the first pitch of the game to spark the Pirates’ 10-0 rout.
• Francisco Cervelli was cleared to resume baseball activities Friday when he rejoined the Pirates.
Cervelli has been on the injured list since May 26 with a concussion, which he sustained when struck on the back of the head by the broken bat of the Dodgers’ Joc Pederson.
It will be interesting to see how Cervelli winds up fitting in with the Pirates. Elias Diaz has done a solid job as the No. 1 catcher and Jacob Stallings has added value as the backup. Cervelli, meanwhile, is hitting .193/.279/.248 with one home run in 34 games.
Cervelli took ground balls at multiple positions during batting practice. However, Hurdle said it was unwise to read too much into that other than he was just getting in some physical activity.
After all, Josh Bell often takes ground balls at shortstop during pre-game drills. However, the Pirates have no plans to make a reverse Ernie Banks position switch with the switch-hitting first baseman.
The Pirates will have a tough decision to make once Cervelli comes off the IL, whenever that may be.
Will he still be the primary catcher? Will he split time with Diaz? Will he back up Diaz? Will Stallings be sent to Indianapolis with the Pirates knowing he would first have to clear waivers for the second time this season? Would the Pirates go against their norm and keep three catchers on the roster?
Stay tuned.
• Erik Gonzalez began the season as the Pirates’ starting shortstop, though it seems like a lifetime ago.
However, the way he will be utilized during his rehab assignment with Class AAA Indianapolis that began Friday night certainly makes it seem he will move into a utility role once he is activated from the IL. Gonzalez will play second base and third base in addition to shortstop.
Newman has put a hammerlock on the job after losing out to Gonzalez in their spring training competition.
It’s easy to feel for Gonzalez. He was so excited in spring training when he learned he was going to be an everyday player for the first time in his career after being acquired from Cleveland in an offseason trade, but that window of opportunity at shortstop appears to be slammed shut. Not only is Newman atop the depth chart, but Cole Tucker is now ahead of Gonzalez as well.
Gonzalez can only wonder about what might have been if he hadn’t broken his left clavicle when he collided with Starling Marte on April 19 in a game against the Giants at PNC Park.
Baseball is the greatest game ever invented. Sometimes, it’s also the cruelest.
• Speaking of the Gonzalez trade, has anyone noticed that Jordan Luplow is hitting .252/.327/.504 with nine home runs in 48 games for the Indians?
