Horwitz plays crucial part(s) in putting down Marlins
The Pirates snapped the Marlins' six-game winning streak, beating Miami, 3-2, this afternoon at PNC Park.
The victory was largely thanks to the performance of Spencer Horwitz, who collected the game-winning RBI on an eighth-inning bases-loaded hit-by-pitch against Anthony Bender. A 96.8 mph sinker clipped Horwitz just above his right shin guard, bringing home Tyler Callihan, who started the two-out rally.
"Bender's been tough," Don Kelly said. "The sweeper-slider that he's got is an elite pitch, and the way that we were able to battle there in that inning and find a way, get guys on base, put the ball in play and Spence to unfortunately wear one to get that run in -- that was a huge inning."
Horwitz's day at the plate started in a similar fashion. He took a first-inning slider off his left foot and later scored from second base on Ryan O'Hearn's single to right field.
Then, in the third inning, Horwitz led off with a single and scored all the way from first base on a double by Bryan Reynolds. Horwitz is not the fastest runner, but third-base coach Tony Beasley still sent him home, and the decision paid off as he slid safely across the plate ahead of the relay throw to put the Pirates back in front, 2-1.
Horwitz's .386 on-base percentage and .286 batting average both rank fourth among qualified first basemen. Even though he's not known for his power, he ranks eighth with an .846 OPS thanks to nine home runs and eight doubles.
In addition to his offensive performance, Horwitz maintained his strong defensive play on Saturday. He made a difficult backhanded snag on a hard grounder by Jakob Marsee and delivered a strong throw to Mason Montgomery covering first base.
Horwitz has committed just two errors all season and ranks ninth among qualified first basemen with a .995 fielding percentage.
"He made it look easy," Kelly on Horwitz's play against Marsee. "He's an elite first baseman. He gets a lot of credit, and he deserves it offensively for the way he swings the bat. Really, the way he plays first base, he's really good over there."
THE ASYLUM
Horwitz plays crucial part(s) in putting down Marlins
The Pirates snapped the Marlins' six-game winning streak, beating Miami, 3-2, this afternoon at PNC Park.
The victory was largely thanks to the performance of Spencer Horwitz, who collected the game-winning RBI on an eighth-inning bases-loaded hit-by-pitch against Anthony Bender. A 96.8 mph sinker clipped Horwitz just above his right shin guard, bringing home Tyler Callihan, who started the two-out rally.
"Bender's been tough," Don Kelly said. "The sweeper-slider that he's got is an elite pitch, and the way that we were able to battle there in that inning and find a way, get guys on base, put the ball in play and Spence to unfortunately wear one to get that run in -- that was a huge inning."
Horwitz's day at the plate started in a similar fashion. He took a first-inning slider off his left foot and later scored from second base on Ryan O'Hearn's single to right field.
Then, in the third inning, Horwitz led off with a single and scored all the way from first base on a double by Bryan Reynolds. Horwitz is not the fastest runner, but third-base coach Tony Beasley still sent him home, and the decision paid off as he slid safely across the plate ahead of the relay throw to put the Pirates back in front, 2-1.
Horwitz's .386 on-base percentage and .286 batting average both rank fourth among qualified first basemen. Even though he's not known for his power, he ranks eighth with an .846 OPS thanks to nine home runs and eight doubles.
In addition to his offensive performance, Horwitz maintained his strong defensive play on Saturday. He made a difficult backhanded snag on a hard grounder by Jakob Marsee and delivered a strong throw to Mason Montgomery covering first base.
Horwitz has committed just two errors all season and ranks ninth among qualified first basemen with a .995 fielding percentage.
"He made it look easy," Kelly on Horwitz's play against Marsee. "He's an elite first baseman. He gets a lot of credit, and he deserves it offensively for the way he swings the bat. Really, the way he plays first base, he's really good over there."
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