'Sky's the limit:' Pirates hit 10 games over .500 for first time since 2015

Rodolfo Castro ran hard out of the box. He knew it was a line drive to the largest part of PNC Park, and anyone who bats right-handed will tell you that the notch steals plenty of home runs.

This time, however, he had enough to clear the fence to make it back-to-back home runs with Connor Joe:

Rounding second, Castro raised his right hand, pointing to let those in attendance know, this team is No. 1:

"You have to enjoy them, especially when you hit it to left-center," Castro said via interpreter Stephen Morales, both of them chuckling throughout the translation process as Carlos Santana gave his own commentary from a few stalls down.

Castro's finger may not be just a matter of opinion. With the Pirates' 6-2 win over the Dodgers Thursday afternoon, they not only won a series against a preseason World Series favorite, they maintained their spot as the team with the best record in the National League. 

A record that the group is either being coy about or is trying to keep out of mind.

“I haven’t looked at it," Duane Underwood Jr. would admit to me. "I just know we’re winning ball games."

It's 18-8, marking the first time this team has been 10 games over .500 at any point since 2015.

You know, 2015. The last time they made the playoffs.

"There’s a lot of talent in this room," David Bednar said. "We have the potential. The sky’s the limit. We play hard every single day and do that, good things happen.”

That talent was on full display. Mitch Keller matched a career high with 10 strikeouts before the bullpen shut things down. The offense continued to produce, both early against Julio Urías and against the Dodgers' bullpen. The defense made key plays, like Castro leaping to rob Mookie Betts of a base hit in the eighth. On the bases, they swiped three more bags.

"I think it is about as complete as we can play," Derek Shelton said.

A year ago, the Pirates' best series was a three-game sweep of the Dodgers. It was a pleasant three-game vacation from a what would be 100-loss season.

But as the Pirates begin their journey of showing whether this was just a hot start or if they are going to be in the playoff mix, beating the Dodgers doesn't have to be a defining moment for them.

“I don’t know if it’s a statement series," Keller said. "I think we’re just playing really good baseball. Everything’s clicking. We’re hitting the ball, we’re pitching the ball, we’re running, we’re playing defense – we’re doing everything right. There’s no doubt in our minds in this clubhouse that we can do that every night. I think that’s a really special thing we’ve got going.”

It can just be a series. Three games out of 162.

"The focus is winning this year," Joe said. "It’s all we are worried about. We are worried about the team. It all stems from there."

There was some inspired play throughout, especially on the base paths. There was a clear opportunity for the Pirates to take those extra bags, and they made sure to:

It took just one batter for that speed to play immediate dividends. After a two-run first inning for the Dodgers, Tucupita Marcano laid down a bunt to get the Pirates started in the home half. Urías fielded it cleanly, but threw it away into right center. The leadoff man would reach third and eventually score on a Bryan Reynolds base hit. Reynolds would score later on a Castro sacrifice fly after a double steal, and a check swing excuse me single by Jack Suwinski would bring home the eventual winning run a batter later.

"To watch those guys run, you always feel there is movement," Joe said. "Chaos. Trying to create pressure on the other pitcher, catcher. You could feel it this series especially, you could feel the other team getting frustrated."

Well-executed small ball paired with some late homers and more quality starts is a recipe for success for anyone against anyone.

Which goes back to the big question: Is this maintainable? 

"You look at the quality of play," Shelton said. "That’s the thing that stands out the most. If you’re consistent with what you do on the mound and you catch the baseball, you give yourselves opportunity. Because we are athletic, there are things that we can do that should be able to maintain it."

And in that clubhouse, well, they don't see the celebrations ending anytime soon.

“We believe in each other," Underwood said. "We believe in ourselves. We’ve got to keep playing good baseball. Pirate baseball.”

THE ESSENTIALS

• Boxscore
• Live file
• Standings
• Statistics
• Schedule
• Scoreboard

THE HIGHLIGHTS

THE INJURIES

• 15-day injured list: RHP Wil Crowe (shoulder), RHP Chase De Jong (lumbar spine), Rob Zastryzny (elbow)

• 60-day injured list: 1B Ji-Man Choi (Achilles), RHP JT Brubaker (elbow), SS Oneil Cruz (ankle), LHP Jarlin Garcia (elbow), RHP Max Kranick (elbow)

THE LINEUPS

Shelton's card:

1. Tucupita Marcano, 2B
2. Bryan Reynolds, LF
3. Andrew McCutchen, DH
4. Connor Joe, 1B
5. Rodolfo Castro, SS
6. Jack Suwinski, CF
7. Mark Mathias, RF
8. Drew Maggi, 3B
9. Austin Hedges, C

And for Dave Roberts' Dodgers:

1. Mookie Betts, 2b
2. Freddie Freeman, 1B
3. Jason Heyward, RF
4. James Outman, CF
5. David Peralta, DH
6. Chris Taylor, SS
7. Michael Busch, 3B
8. Trayce Thompson, LF
9. Austin Barnes, C

THE SCHEDULE

The Pirates are heading to the nation's capital to start a three-game weekend series. Rich Hill (2-2, 4.85) will take the bump against Chad Kuhl (0-1, 7.36). First pitch is scheduled for 7:05 p.m. I've got you covered from D.C. this weekend.

THE MULTIMEDIA

THE CONTENT

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