Pirates return home with 6-1 record after winning a pair in D.C.

WASHINGTON -- The mood inside the Pirates' clubhouse was upbeat yet focused. Smiles on the faces of players feeling confident after winning six games during a season-opening seven-game road trip that acted as an extension of spring training. But also a group eager to move on to the next series. 

Now, after a 7-4 victory over the Nationals in the final game of a three-game set Thursday night, the Pirates are making their way home for Friday's opener against the Orioles at PNC Park. 

And they're doing it with some momentum on their side. 

“It’s nice to go home 6-1," Derek Shelton said. "I’m excited about getting to PNC because I know the crowd is going to be after it." 

The Pittsburgh faithful will have every reason to, even with a three-game set looming against an Orioles team favored to be one of the top teams, not just in the American League, but in all of baseball this season. The Pirates, on the other hand, have lofty expectations for themselves, especially after a seven-game stretch in which they scored 49 runs -- averaging seven per game -- and allowed 30 against a pair of National League East teams in the Marlins and Nationals. 

One through nine, guys contributed within the lineup, while members of the pitching staff stepped up when needed. There were some rough outings from Mitch Keller and Bailey Falter, but Marco Gonzales enjoyed a nice return to the mound for the first time since May, Jared Jones impressed with a 10-strikeout MLB debut and Martin Perez shined with two strong performances, one in this particular victory. Not to mention the bullpen was lights out, entering Thursday's game with a 1.67 ERA -- five earned runs in 27 innings -- and a .157 batting average against. That's the sixth-lowest ERA and fourth-lowest batting average against among bullpens in Major League Baseball. 

"All 26 guys on this road trip contributed and we really did a nice job," Shelton added. "We came out of spring training and we talked about a full-team approach and we really saw it on this road trip.”

Still, there are some challenges that present the group when having to follow up six weeks in Florida for spring training with two more weeks on the road to begin the season. 

“It’s challenging just because of the fact that you end spring training and you want to get home, you want to get in front of your fans," Shelton said. "The fact that we had the four games [in Miami], then the four games here, it’s nice, but it feels like we’ve been on the road for a long time.”

With their road trip behind them, ahead is a five-game homestand that concludes with a brief two-game series with the Tigers at the beginning of next week. After being away from Pittsburgh this spring and being away to begin the season, Shelton and his players are eager to get back to work on their home field and in front of the Pirates faithful. 

"It'll be cool," said Rowdy Tellez, who is set to play in his first game at PNC Park as a member of the Pirates after spending the last few seasons in Milwaukee. "I've played there before and it's a great place to play. Excited to get there and excited to continue winning and playing some good ball." 

"We’re excited to get back home and get back in front of those fans," Connor Joe said. "I just think back to last year in the home opener. A blackout, Cutch’s return and it was electric. I’m looking forward to the atmosphere, being back home and being back in the best ballpark in America.” 

MORE FROM THE GAME

Let's talk about that sixth win of the season, shall we? 

• The aforementioned second start of Perez's Pirates career ended with him becoming the first Pirates pitcher to get past the sixth inning this season. With his sinker, cutter and changeup at the forefront of his pitch usage, Perez allowed two earned runs on six hits with two walks and six strikeouts in 6 2/3 innings: 

"You got to go up there and attack hitters, make sure what they're looking for. See the reactions and try to move the ball," said Perez, who threw 61 of his 85 pitches for strikes while celebrating his 33rd birthday Thursday. "Anything that you throw in the middle, they're gonna hit you. It's always trying to stay in the corner and trying to use all the four corners of the plate. So, today was a great game, and be ready for the next one." 

The two runs allowed by Perez were the result of an RBI single allowed to Jesse Winker in the second and a solo shot by CJ Abrams in the fifth. The Nationals scored two late runs off Luis Ortiz, as Trey Lipscomb and Ildemaro Vargas contributed with run-scoring singles. But the story revolved around Perez and his ability to get hitters out with the six groundouts and four flyouts he induced, and the six strikeouts, five of which came via whiffs and three that were the result of changeups down and either in the zone or in the dirt.

“He’s a pro. He’s been doing it for a while and we have confidence in him," Joe said. "We know, playing behind him, you’re gonna get a solid start and it’s gonna be competitive. It was today. I haven’t played with him for a long time, but playing against him, I know he’s a pro and he’s prepared. That’s all we can ask for.” 

• A day after scuffling in the form of four hits and 13 strikeouts in their first loss of the season, the Pirates regained their offensive form by collecting 11 hits, including three from Michael A. Taylor and two apiece from Oneil Cruz, Bryan Reynolds and Tellez. A four-run first inning highlighted the performance, as Nationals starter Josiah Gray was forced to throw 33 pitches right out of the gate. Cruz, Reynolds and Ke'Bryan Hayes each reached to load the bases before a sacrifice fly by Jack Suwinski plated the game's first run. Joe walked and the bases were loaded again for Tellez, who lined a single up the middle to plate a pair:

"It feels really good when you can go 6-1 anywhere, on a roady especially," Tellez said. "We need to continue to put together good at-bats and make pitchers throw a lot of pitches in a game, that's gonna be huge for us. We're just looking at it game by game." 

Henry Davis added a sac fly to end the first and Reynolds drove in a run to make it 5-0 with a single in the second. It wasn't until the fifth that Joe extended their lead to 7-1 on a two-run shot, his first of the season, off Derek Law: 

“We’re playing good baseball," Joe said. "Martin going deep into that game, I think he had 80 pitches going into the seventh, and the bullpen is doing its job. We’re putting together really tough at-bats, wearing down opposing pitchers. Gray was good today. He wasn’t in the first and we scored runs and got ahead early. But to wear him down, it just speaks to the offense and the type of at-bats we’re putting together despite him finding his stuff and having good stuff through the game.” 

"I think it was a great game," Perez said. "Good series and go back to Pittsburgh continue to do what we've been doing on the road. But, it was a great game...Back home and try to enjoy that with our fans there."

• Ortiz threw one inning in relief of Perez, allowing two runs on two hits with a pair of walks and a strikeout. Aroldis Chapman was called upon to finish the eighth. He struck out Jacob Young to pass the baton to David Bednar, who struck out a pair in the ninth to pick up his first save of the season. 

• And, ahead of the 6-1 Pirates' return to PNC Park for tomorrow's home opener, here are some parting words from Bednar: 

THE ESSENTIALS

• Box score
• Live file
• Schedule
• Scoreboard

THE INJURIES

• 10-day injured list: C Yasmani Grandal (foot), C Jason Delay (knee), 2B Ji Hwan Bae (hip).

• 15-day injured list: RHP Carmen Mlodzinski (forearm), RHP Colin Holderman (illness).

• 60-day injured list: RHP Johan Oviedo (elbow), RHP Dauri Moreta (elbow), C Endy Rodriguez (elbow).

THE SCHEDULE

The Pirates host the Orioles in their home opener at PNC Park with first pitch set for 4:12 p.m. Jared Jones (1-0, 4-76 ERA) takes the mound for his second MLB start. He will be opposed by Baltimore's Grayson Rodriguez (1-0, 1.50 ERA). 

THE CONTENT

Visit our team page for everything.