On doorstep of 2,000 hits, a walk shows 'why he's Andrew McCutchen' taken at PNC Park (Pirates)

JUSTIN BERL / GETTY

Andrew McCutchen lifts a game-winning sacrifice fly in the eighth inning Monday.

Andrew McCutchen entered Monday's game against the Athletics with 1,997 career hits, just one big day away from the 2,000 hit plateau, a tier only four active players have reached.

He had that big night Monday, even though he didn't have a hit. In a performance where the Pirates drew 10 walks as a team, McCutchen led the way with three free passes and lifted the game-winning sacrifice fly in the eighth to propel them to a 5-4 win.

Not to undersell a winning RBI, but it was another plate appearance in the sixth inning that may have been the sequence of the game, if not one of the best in McCutchen's second turn as a Pirate.

Trailing 3-1 with one out and the bases loaded in the bottom of the sixth inning, McCutchen immediately had to hit the deck on the first pitch of the at-bat when reliever Shintaro Fujinami's cutter didn't move and nearly hit the Pirates' designated hitter in the head. Boos from the crowd briefly turned to gasps because McCutchen landed awkwardly on his right arm and came up in visual pain, though it turned out to be just a stinger and he would continue the at-bat.

What followed was an eight-pitch battle between McCutchen and the Japanese reliever who can ramp up his fastball to over 100 mph. McCutchen battled, and on the eighth pitch, he took a 102 fastball just low, bringing home a run and opening the scoring for the Pirates' biggest inning of the night:

If the bat drop wasn't proof enough that the free pass fired up McCutchen, his roar after getting the call did.

"Just trying to get the job done," McCutchen said. "I understand the situation there. I know we need to get that run in. Just trying to bear down. I know he's a hard thrower. Just try to get that run in as much as I could. I was able to do it and have a good at-bat. Luckily, I took that pitch and it didn't reverse and wasn't a called strike three."

The Pirates knew going into the game there would be opportunities like what McCutchen had in the sixth inning. The Athletics had allowed a major-league-worst 4.6 walks per nine innings entering Monday, so Pirate batters knew to be patient and not press. Who better to set that pace than the soon-to-be member of the 2,000 hit club?

"I told him that might have been the best [plate appearance] I've ever seen my whole career," Austin Hedges said. "To walk in that situation after a guy throws 100 mph at your head, to foul pitches off with that guy's stuff and then the 3-2 take — that’s why you're an MVP. That's why he's Andrew McCutchen."

McCutchen has downplayed the significance of that upcoming 2,000th hit. I's just a "round number," as he has put it in the past. Actions in moments like that can speak louder than words.

‘We've been talking about that, the 2,000 for a while and the question keeps coming up, do people press when they get close and I think that just shows you how good of a player he is," Derek Shelton said. "Because not only is he not seeking the 2,000, it's the fact that he's such a team player that he's taking the same at-bats he has all year.” 

"It's inevitable I'm going to get it," McCutchen said. "At some point I will. So, I'm not stressing about it at all. I'm not trying to do overdo it or do too much or start chasing just because I'm trying to get three more hits. I'm just trying to stay within myself, understand the situation and put together good at-bats. If I don't get a pitch to hit, I'll take my walk. Nothing changes in my approach."

It's a savy veteran move. It wasn't his only one of the inning. With the bases loaded and one out later in the sixth, Jack Suwinski lifted a shallow fly ball to right fielder Seth Brown. With Hedges on third in a tie game, it seemed logical Brown would go home with the throw, but he instead went to third base to grab McCutchen. McCutchen pulled up while running towards the bag, allowing Hedges to score the go-ahead run:

"I'm not necessarily trying to draw the throw there, but understanding with Hedges at third, he's going to need all the help he can get," McCutchen said. "In my mind, I thought knowing the situation, he's probably going to throw it home. It's a tie ball game there, so he's going to give it a shot. At least that's what I was thinking. But at the same time, if he throws it to third, I'm going to pull up and make sure we're going to get a run. That's why I left, and when I did, I saw that the ball was coming in, I just pulled up. Get the run. But I think if he could have that play back, he would probably be throwing that ball home instead of third."

With the win and a Brewers loss, the Pirates also moved into sole possession of first place in the National League Central. While there have been players in that clubhouse willing to talk about the postseason for the first time in years, McCutchen is downplaying the significance of being in first early.

"We're in a good spot, but I'm not too focused with where we are in the standings," McCutchen said. "It's literally June. We have to just keep taking care of business, showing up, winning the games we know we should win. If we do that, we'll probably be in a really good spot at the end, but we still have a lot of games to play."

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THE HIGHLIGHTS

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THE INJURIES

15-day injured list: RHP Vince Velasquez (elbow)

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

THE LINEUPS

Shelton's card:

1. Andrew McCutchen, DH
2. Bryan Reynolds
, LF
3. Connor Joe
, RF
4. Carlos Santana
, 1B
5. Rodolfo Castro
, SS
6. Ke'Bryan Hayes
, 3B
7. Ji Hwan Bae
, CF
8. Mark Mathias
, 2B
9. Austin Hedges
, C

And for Mark Kotsay's Athletics:

1. Esteury Ruiz, CF
2. Ryan Noda
, 1B
3. Brent Rooker
, 2B
4. Seth Brown
, RF
5. Carlos Pérez
, C
6. JJ Bleday
, LF
7. Jonah Bride
, 3B
8. Jace Peterson
, 2B
9. Nick Allen
, C

THE SCHEDULE

The Pirates will try to push their winning streak to seven when Mitch Keller (7-1, 3.25) takes on James Kaprielian (0-6, 8.12) at 7:05 p.m. Tuesday. I'll have you covered.

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