Growing up in Tennessee, the marquee pitching matchups between Science Hill and Pigeon Forge high school were a battle of Wills.
Actually, of Will and Wil.
Will Craig and Wil Crowe started playing against each other when they were seven years old. Although their schools were over an hour apart, the two families would get to know each other and become friends, just because of how many times they faced each other in travel ball and high school. Only once did the two ever get to call the other a teammate, for an East Tennessee All-Star team.
On Thursday, the two suited up as teammates for the second time, this time members of the Pirates.
“It's gonna be fun to play with him and have him on my team for a change,” Crowe said Thursday.
And while it was a losing effort, with the Giants winning 3-1 at PNC Park Thursday night, both Will and Wil made cases for why they should remain with the team.
For Crowe, it was five strong innings, though he was charged for all three runs. Those all came in the fifth, though two were on an errant throw by Jacob Stallings on a pickoff attempt at third and a broken bat looper that was just out of right fielder Gregory Polanco’s reach.
“The bat broke, I thought for sure we had a chance to catch it,” Crowe said. “Unfortunately, it's just you know, the way the ball falls.”
For Craig, it was one swing of the bat:
Craig got every bit of Camilo Doval’s 99 mph fastball, but off the bat, Craig didn’t know if that would be enough.
“I knew I hit it really well, and as soon as I saw where it was going, I'm like, 'I've got a chance for a double,' ” Craig said. “Then I saw the outfielders look up and quit running, and that's when I knew and kind of slowed down my pace a little bit."
That was not only his first homer of his major-league career, but his first hit. After having his contract selected a few hours before the game, Craig was given another chance at the majors after being designated for assignment by the Pirates this offseason.
A minor-league gold glover at first base, the concern with Craig was his bat. During spring training, the Pirates challenged him to make changes that they thought would help take his game to the next level.
“And to his credit, he took it and ran with it,” Derek Shelton said. “I think he was in a situation where he realized he needed to make some adjustments in his approach, in his swing. And [on the] first night, I think we saw the benefits of it.”
One of the changes that Craig had been working on with Indianapolis hitting coach Jon Nunnally was timing related. In the past, he had started his swing too late, so they experimented by starting his swing process earlier than he would normally think to.
“Kind of tricking my brain, almost, to make sure I give myself enough time,” Craig said. “You've really got to give yourself time to be able to see the ball and react.”
Craig’s homer was his fourth in three days, the other three coming with Indianapolis. It’s a small sample, but it could be a sign of things to come.
And it’s going to come in what should be Craig’s longest stint in the majors. His first came last year, and lasted just two games.
Both Craig and Crowe have had similar development cycles, once being highly touted prospects before slowing down in the upper levels, and are in similar spots, getting a chance in the majors because of injuries.
Crowe is filling the spot of opening day starter Chad Kuhl. Kuhl threw a two inning sim game Thursday, and the team will have a better idea of what his path back to the mound will be like Friday.
For now, though, Crowe is going to continue to get opportunities. In his four starts since being promoted, he has gone 20 innings and allowed nine runs, good for a 4.05 ERA. For someone getting their first extended look in that role, it’s been a respectable output. On Thursday, he allowed six hits, a walk and struck out five over his five frames.
At first base, both Colin Moran and Phllip Evans were placed on the injured list this week, which prompted Craig’s promotion.
“Everyone would probably see it as a negative impact on your career,” Craig said. ”But for me I kind of see it as a positive thing and being like, 'Ok, this happened, life's going to continue on. If I can continue doing what I need to do, I can get back to where I need to be and producing at a high level,' because I know I can. There was never a doubt in my own mind about my abilities. So hopefully I just continue getting opportunities and help make the most of them, and whatever happens happens.”
The odds seem good that Craig will still be in the majors by the time Crowe’s turn in the rotation comes again. If that’s the case, the two could bat back-to-back again, like they did on that All-Star team back when they were kids.
And if they have their way, they’ll remain in the lineup together for years to come.
MORE FROM THE GAME
• The Pirates' offensive woes continued Thursday, and for the ninth time in 11 games, they failed to score more than two runs.
It was even more dire than that Thursday. After a two-out bloop by Jacob Stallings in the first inning, the Pirates' next base runner wouldn't come until Bryan Reynolds doubled to open the seventh.
The Pirates managed just five hits on the night and were 0-for-4 with runners in scoring position. Anthony DeSclafani, a former member of the Reds who the Pirates had a good history against, allowed just two base runners over five innings.
So how do the Pirates break out of this offensive slump?
"It's one of those things where I think we just need a break-out inning," Shelton said. "We need a couple balls in the gap, maybe a blooper to fall. And there's no formula to it. I mean, some of it's the pitching we've faced. And the other thing is, I just think the consistency of our at-bats throughout the lineup haven't been there."
• While they didn't throw a clean inning, Chasen Shreve, Chris Stratton and Clay Holmes put up four zeroes with six strikeouts in relief.
• So who used to win those Craig vs. Crowe matchups back in the day? Per Craig's account, it was Crowe.
"He definitely won more than we did, for sure. But I will say their team's a little bit better than ours," Craig said.
Neither one homered off the other, in case you were curious.
• After the game, the Pirates recalled right-hander Miguel Yajure from Class AAA Indianapolis and option Geoff Hartlieb. Yajure will start Friday.
Yajure made his first big league start against the Tigers on April 21, where he allowed four runs over 4 1/3 innings. One of the headliners in the Jameson Taillon trade, he projects to be part of the Pirates' rotation of the future.
Tyler Anderson, who was supposed to start Friday, will instead go Saturday, and Mitch Keller will start Sunday.
THE ESSENTIALS
Boxscore
Highlights
Scoreboard
Standings
Statistics
THE LINEUPS
Shelton's card:
Adam Frazier, 2B
Kevin Newman, SS
Bryan Reynolds, CF
Jacob Stallings, C
Gregory Polanco, RF
Erik Gonzalez, 3B
Ben Gamel, LF
Will Craig, 1B
Wil Crowe, P
And for Gabe Kapler's Giants:
Mike Tauchman, LF
Buster Posey, C
Mike Yastrzemski, LF
Evan Longoria, 3B
Wilmer Flores, 2B
LaMonte Wade Jr., RF
Mauricio Dubon, SS
Steven Duggar, CF
Anthony DeSclafani, P
THE SCHEDULE
The Pirates have three more against the Giants this weekend, with Miguel Yajure (0-1, 8.31 ERA) scheduled to take the mound against Kevin Gausman (3-0, 1.97 ERA). First pitch is again set for 6:35 p.m.
THE CONTENT
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