Pirates must consistently capitalize on big innings

The Pirates have put together big innings all season long. They've stacked hits and scored multiple runs to build up comfortable leads. However, for every one of those big innings, there have been games where the Pirates have allowed their opponents to stick around and find a way to win, but that didn't happen Thursday night at PNC Park and that needs to become more of the norm.

After Bailey Falter gave up three runs to the Nationals in the first inning of their series opener, the Pirates responded in kind with a five-run second inning and kept their foot on the gas pedal en route to a 9-4 victory.

Similar offensive outputs have been wasted in the past. For example, back on Aug. 2 against the Diamondbacks, they put together a four-run sixth inning, only to allow their opponents to crawl back into it by scoring one run in each of the final three innings. Two days later, they scored a combined four runs in the first two innings and then went scoreless in the next six before pushing one measly run across in the ninth.

Let's also not forget about their matchup against the Padres on Aug. 8 where they scored three runs in the sixth and two in the seventh to take a 5-4 lead before punting that game away, just one night after scoring eight and losing by a run. 

These are just a few examples from the last month.

However, this night was different, because as Derek Shelton put it, they continued to attack, tagging starter Jake Irvin for one more run in the third and then getting to Joe La Sorsa for three more in the sixth. On this night, that was enough.

"I think one of the continued ways forward for us is there's time we get them and then we don't score again," Shelton said. "Today, we got them and we continued to go and I think that's the mindset we need to have. Again, that goes back to our offensive approach tonight. Our approach helped us because we didn't go out of the zone. We didn't put the ball on the ground for a double play. That was the most important thing."

That approach was a patient one as the Pirates drew a season-high nine walks. Oneil Cruz and Yasmani Grandal drew two apiece and five other hitters drew one. Nick Gonzales was one of them and while he only tallied one hit, a two-RBI single to right field in that five-run second inning, his walk came on four pitches with the bases loaded in the sixth and was the first of two that scored a run.

Gonzales said when the Pirates have a patient approach they can connect multiple at-bats and push runs across the plate, which was the case on this night. 

In their five-run second inning, Jared Triolo hit a sharp line drive to right field to score Connor Joe and then Isiah Kiner-Falefa and Bryan Reynolds tallied back-to-back hits before Gonzales drove them in with a single to right field after Cruz drew a walk. Here's a quick recap: 

When the Pirates are stacking hits and backing up the guy up in front of them at the plate they are tough because, as Gonzales put it, that type of success is contagious.

"When we're moving the bat like that, there's not a lot of teams that can hold that, so it's good to see," Gonzales said.

But it hasn't happened enough this season. Games like tonight aren't the norm for the Pirates. On too many occasions they've come out on the losing end of matchups like this and tonight almost became another as Joey Wentz loaded the bases in the ninth before Aroldis Chapman came in to shut the door.

Good teams find ways to string together performances like the one the Pirates produced on this night, consistently. It's what separates the good from the bad and until they can find ways to do that, they'll be right where they currently are.