ST. LOUIS -- Liover Peguero knows that if he doesn't hear Jack Suwinski, it means the play is his. As Nolan Gorman's third inning flare to center kept falling, the Pirates slowed down to give Peguero space. It was the shortstop's play or nobody's at this point.
What followed was an over the shoulder catch so impressive that Peguero didn't even know he caught it until Suwinski broke the news to him:
— DK Pittsburgh Sports (@DKPSvideos) September 2, 2023
"In that moment when I catch it, I was just like, 'Oh my God, I got it,' " Peguero said. "I didn't know how to react. I kind of blacked out, too. Suwinski dapped me up and I was just like, 'Why are you looking at me like that?' He's like, 'Yeah, yeah, you made it.' It's an unbelievable feeling. I can't even describe it right now."
Perhaps it was Derek Shelton who summed up that play the best with, "That’s a game-changer right there." Mitch Keller went six innings of one run ball, but had that dropped in, the Pirates could have very well been behind all game and failed to get into extra innings.
"That's so hard to do," a beaming Suwinski said. "I wish people knew how hard it was. But I at least appreciate watching it."
That catch was one of several plays that Peguero's hustle was able to create in Friday's 4-2 10 inning Pirates win over the Cardinals at Busch Stadium. In the second, an aggressive send by third base coach Mike Rabelo brought him home on an Alfonso Rivas double:
— DK Pittsburgh Sports (@DKPSvideos) September 2, 2023
And then in the 10th, after the offense had made some hard contact but couldn't get much going against Dakota Hudson, he opened the frame with an infield single on a ground ball to first baseman Paul Goldschmidt. Lefty JoJo Romero's did not break for the bag on contact and Peguero tied his best registered MLB sprint time at 30.3 ft/sec. to just beat him out:
— DK Pittsburgh Sports (@DKPSvideos) September 2, 2023
That infield single started a chain reaction of small ball plays that inning -- Andrew McCutchen got the winning RBI off the bench on what was ruled an error by second baseman Tommy Edman -- the official scorekeeper changed it to a single afterward -- while two more runs came home on a wild pitch and a Bryan Reynolds sacrifice fly -- and changed the momentum to the Pirates' favor. And it was all possible because they hustled, starting with Peguero.
"The one thing you see about our young guys is they play hard every night," Shelton said. "I think that’s the most important thing. Our effort is good. We’re running out balls."
It's what one would hope see from a young team gearing up for its final month of the season. Shelton said it starts with Reynolds and Andrew McCutchen, but it's hard to ignore Peguero too. No, he's not a franchise icon or All-Star like the other two, but he certainly is a catalyst.
In spring training a year ago, Peguero would often bring in a blasting boombox into the clubhouse. He left it at home this spring, and the energy he's been providing has been laughs and smiles with his teammates instead. Even the usually serious Henry Davis got in on a bit of the fun postgame Friday, sticking in his phone like it was a recorder to become a part of the visiting media's scrum with Peguero.
"He definitely lights up a clubhouse, that's for sure," Suwinski said. "Brings a lot of energy, you can count on that. That's one thing. Just a good, young guy, really. I like to be around him, like to talk to him. Just feed off that energy, see that smile on his face and let him do his thing."
The energy Peguero brings is contagious, and it carries onto the field. Call it a coincidence, but there have been a couple times in Peguero's time in the majors where his hustle sparked a big inning for the team, including on Tuesday when he led off the eighth with a bunt single before Ke'Bryan Hayes hit the winning home run.
"I feel like I've been working really hard to be able to feel that way," Peguero said. "I think the key right now is just the confidence I've been putting on."
It's been noticeable, and while the Pirates are still on pace for what will likely be their fifth consecutive losing season, the trajectory does appear to be better. Now winners of four straight, the Pirates matched their 2022 win total Friday (62) with still a month to play. They are 21-19 over their last 40 games -- a quarter of the season -- which is when Peguero and Endy Rodríguez were called up and the youth movement went into full effect.
While it is only one game, Peguero's plays and the breaks in the 10th seemed to exploit a Cardinals team that is flatfooted at the moment. The Pirates took advantage of those spots.
"Right now, we're playing together," Peguero said. "I feel like that's one thing that's been showing up. We're just holding each other accountable. When we do those things, everybody's on the same pace, that's what we've been doing. I'm not surprised now that we're still doing it."
GETTY
Alika Williams and Bryan Reynolds celebrate the Pirates' victory Friday night in St. Louis.
THE ESSENTIALS
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THE HIGHLIGHTS
THE INJURIES
• 10-day injured list: RF Henry Davis (thumb)
• 60-day injured list: SS Oneil Cruz (ankle), RHP JT Brubaker (elbow), LHP Jarlin Garcia (elbow), RHP Max Kranick (elbow), INF Tucupita Marcano (knee), LHP Angel Perdomo (elbow), RHP Vince Velasquez (elbow)
THE LINEUPS
Shelton's card:
1. Ji Hwan Bae, 2B
2. Bryan Reynolds, LF
3. Ke'Bryan Hayes, 3B
4. Connor Joe, 1B
5. Jack Suwinski, CF
6. Endy Rodríguez, C
7. Liover Peguero, SS
8. Alfonso Rivas, 1B
9. Jason Delay, C
And for Oliver Marmol's Cardinals:
1. Lars Nootbaar, CF
2. Paul Goldschmidt, 1B
3. Nolan Gorman, DH
4. Nolan Arenado, 3B
5. Willson Contreras, C
6. Tyler O'Neill, LF
7. Tommy Edman, 2B
8. Samad Taylor, 2B
9. Kyle Isbel, CF
THE SCHEDULE
Thomas Hatch (1-1, 3.20) will be the first man up Saturday, and the Cardinals will counter with lefty Drew Rom (0-2, 8.00). First pitch is set for 7:15 p.m. Eastern. I'll have you covered.
THE MULTIMEDIA
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