There's no question that the Pirates were searching for more offensively heading into this afternoon's 4-2 win over the Diamondbacks here at Chase Field.
One of the game's better offensive units had struggled to manufacture runs over their previous three games, scoring just two over the span of 26 innings. There were far too many squandered opportunities at the plate, too, as a combined 1-for-20 showing with runners in scoring position was coupled with a total of 18 runners left on base. It was good enough to back solid pitching in two of their wins against the Reds and these same Diamondbacks, but there was more to be desired there.
On this particular afternoon, the Pirates got exactly what they needed to turn the tides. BrandonLowe and JoeyBart delivered big blows with solo home runs and a two-run fifth inning featured a BryanReynolds walk and three hits, including back-to-back RBI singles from Ryan O'Hearn and Spencer Horwitz. Finally, they were able to come through with the big hits they needed.
"I was just trying to pass the baton, get the next guy to the plate," said Lowe, who led off the fifth with a single that contributed to his three-hit effort. "I know the two guys behind me in B-Rey and O’Hearn, they do some pretty good things when guys are on base. If I can be on for them, that’s a pretty big plus."
When the offense has been clicking this season, Pirates hitters have been passing the baton and working together to push runs across, as Lowe alluded to. It hasn't always been just one guy, and it hasn't always been the same guys contributing to their success. Today, they got back to what has helped them register the sixth-most runs scored (185) in Major League Baseball. As a result, they found a way to take two of three in the desert.
"We have a lot of confidence in our offense and what we're capable of," O'Hearn told me. "When runs feel like they're hard to come by, it just feels like a matter of time with this group that we're going to get cranking and get some runs up on the board."
THE ASYLUM
Hitters 'pass the baton' again to take series
There's no question that the Pirates were searching for more offensively heading into this afternoon's 4-2 win over the Diamondbacks here at Chase Field.
One of the game's better offensive units had struggled to manufacture runs over their previous three games, scoring just two over the span of 26 innings. There were far too many squandered opportunities at the plate, too, as a combined 1-for-20 showing with runners in scoring position was coupled with a total of 18 runners left on base. It was good enough to back solid pitching in two of their wins against the Reds and these same Diamondbacks, but there was more to be desired there.
On this particular afternoon, the Pirates got exactly what they needed to turn the tides. Brandon Lowe and Joey Bart delivered big blows with solo home runs and a two-run fifth inning featured a Bryan Reynolds walk and three hits, including back-to-back RBI singles from Ryan O'Hearn and Spencer Horwitz. Finally, they were able to come through with the big hits they needed.
"I was just trying to pass the baton, get the next guy to the plate," said Lowe, who led off the fifth with a single that contributed to his three-hit effort. "I know the two guys behind me in B-Rey and O’Hearn, they do some pretty good things when guys are on base. If I can be on for them, that’s a pretty big plus."
When the offense has been clicking this season, Pirates hitters have been passing the baton and working together to push runs across, as Lowe alluded to. It hasn't always been just one guy, and it hasn't always been the same guys contributing to their success. Today, they got back to what has helped them register the sixth-most runs scored (185) in Major League Baseball. As a result, they found a way to take two of three in the desert.
"We have a lot of confidence in our offense and what we're capable of," O'Hearn told me. "When runs feel like they're hard to come by, it just feels like a matter of time with this group that we're going to get cranking and get some runs up on the board."
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