Rookies come through, take a step forward as Pirates continue surge

CINCINNATI -- This year hasn't always been how several Pirate rookies saw the year develop. For most of the year, Henry Davis was a hard-hitting catcher who was growing defensively at his position of choice. In the majors, he's primarily played right field and hasn't consistently produced on offense.

But when the Pirates needed a knock Friday against the Reds at Great American BallPark, Davis came through with a fifth inning home run to left:

"The at-bats before I had gone down looking," Davis said before cracking a smile. "Honestly, I was looking for something I could hit."

That home run was the first of five lead changes on the night, as the Pirates -- fresh off a series win against the Cubs in Wrigley Field -- won their third straight game against a team in the midst of a wild card chase, hanging on to beat the Reds, 7-5.

Those wins and this stretch of 15 wins in their last 23 games is a positive step forward for the Pirates, who are playing hard down the stretch and treating these final four series as if they are in a playoff race, too. Technically, they still are -- "Are we eliminated right now? I didn't see that," Davis would answer to my question about playing hard through the end of year -- though the number of things that would need to break their way for it to happen makes it seemingly impossible. 

But hey, if it's fuel, go for it. And there is a lot to be gained from playing like it matters in environments like this past week at Wrigley Field and a loud Great American BallPark.

"There are certain things that happen in the playoffs that you can’t really replicate in practice or in most games," Davis said, "whether that’s you can’t hear the other people talking or, say, adapting on the fly if you can’t hear the pitch com. Those are the things that in this playoff environment we can really learn from."

It wasn't just Davis who led the team to victory, Friday. Jared Triolo has also continued his power spike since his promotion back up to the majors earlier this month. After hitting just two doubles and one home run in his first stint in the majors, totaling 36 games, he has hit two home runs and two doubles this week alone. He's made some tweaks in the box of late, including straightening up his stance and moving his hands, which seems to have unlocked his power.

"It feels good," Triolo said about his tweaks. "The results feel a lot better than they did before. Having fun in the box, seeing good pitches and swinging at 'em."

Even Endy Rodríguez got in on the fun, launching a 431-footer to snap a 22-game homer-less streak:

He knew he had it, too. "When you hit a monster shot like that, you feel it off the bat," he said laughing.

Rodríguez is almost always wearing a smile, but it's good to see some relief from Davis and Triolo. Regardless of how these final eight games shake out, some long balls late in the year do help leave a better taste in the mouth for the offseason.

"100 percent," Derek Shelton said. "Keep going, keep grinding... Any time that we have at-bats like that out of our young players, it’s really important."

Friday was one of the Pirates' most back-and-forth games of the season. Luis Ortiz was wild and couldn't get through the fifth, even with an opener spotting him the first inning. Those five lead changes happened over the course of five consecutive half innings, with the rookie homers either tying the game up or giving the Pirates the lead. The winning tally for the Pirates came in the seventh when Miguel Andújar beat a relay for a double play, but before then, it was the rookies leading the way on offense.

This late into season, though, they may be rookies in name only. Rodríguez would point out that "I think we're not rookies [anymore]."

There's been good.There's been bad. That's expected for both. For this trio, in particular, It's been a bumpy ride. Triolo is currently riding high, but even with the home runs, Rodríguez and Davis have OPS clips of .598 and .634, respectively. 

"I know I’m capable of performing far better than I am now, but I do everything I can every day to get closer to that," Davis said.

They're called "growing pains" for a reason. Rodríguez bemoaned his offensive output this year too, but expressed optimism for his future. In all three cases, it's about building off of that rookie year to help the team more consistently next year.

"It’s easier to analyze in the moment what’s going wrong," Davis said. "But creating a plan that’s going to be effective and executing it and applying it in the game is different. That’s why we have the staff we do and our teammates. However we can help myself, the team get to where we want to go."

And for this group, there is a clear goal of where they want to be this time come next season.

"Next year, we're going to the playoffs," Rodríguez said.

Why does he believe that?

"The talent we've got right here," Rodríguez answered. "The emotion, the feeling, the energy."

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THE HIGHLIGHTS

THE INJURIES

• 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), DH/OF Andrew McCutchen (Achilles)

THE LINEUPS

Shelton's card:

1. Connor Joe, 1B
2. Bryan Reynolds, DH
3. Ke'Bryan Hayes, 3B
4. Miguel Andújar, LF
5. Jared Triolo, 2B
6. Liover Peguero, SS
7. Endy Rodríguez, C
8. Henry Davis, RF
9. Ji Hwan Bae, CF

And for David Bell's Reds:

1. Jonathan India, 2B
2. TJ Friedl, CF
3. Spencer Steer, LF
4. Christian Encarnancion-Strand, DH
5. Joey Votto, 1B
6. Noelvi Marte, 3B
7. Elly De La Cruz, SS
8. Will Benson, RF
9. Luke Maile, C

THE SCHEDULE

The Pirates will try to make it four in a row Saturday when Bailey Falter (2-9, 4.58) takes the bump against Connor Phillips (1-0, 5.74). First pitch is set for 6:40 p.m. I'll have you covered.

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