Offensive sparks come in many ways. A two-out hit to the gap, a game-changing home run, a stolen base that leads to a run, or as it did tonight, a first-to-third baserunning display that set the tone for the Pirates in their 10-3 win over the Marlins at PNC Park, their fourth straight.

Catcher Brett Sullivan, who was acquired from the Padres on April 16 for minor-league outfielder Bryce Johnson and cash, was making his first start as a Pirate after being called up over the weekend. He led off the third inning with a nine-pitch walk after falling behind 0-2 to Eury Pérez, a hard-throwing right-hander making his first start since undergoing Tommy John surgery last season.

That at-bat raised Pérez's pitch count to 40 through eight batters and the 22-year-old seemed to be fatiguing. Sullivan then did this on Jared Triolo's single into center field: 

That's the 31 year old going first-to-third to move into scoring position with Oneil Cruz and the heart of the Pirates' lineup due up with no outs. 

"Before the pitch, you are checking the outfielders. Great hit, it’s a bleeder, but we take them in any way," Sullivan said. "I saw that it was getting down and I wanted to go right away. Set the tone a little bit, come out there and get a little dirty. First and third with no outs is a huge opportunity.”

Cruz followed up with a four-pitch walk before Andrew McCutchen drove Sullivan home with a dribbler past the mound to tie the game at one. Bryan Reynolds then cleared the bases when he squared up a low-and-away slider and sent it into the right-center gap: 

Reynolds' triple made it 4-1. The Pirates went on to record 15 hits, scored four more runs in the sixth and went 8 for 19 with runners in scoring position. Sullivan drove in two -- a sacrifice fly and RBI single. 

"Huge at-bat there leading off. Nine pitch at-bat there going first to third on that base hit to center field," Don Kelly said of Sullivan. "He called a great game, received a great game, threw a guy out in the first inning trying to steal. Just everything we talked about before the game, the energy he brings. Great at-bats too, sac fly, base hit a couple of RBIs. Great game by Brett there." 

One might look at Reynolds' triple, Hayes' bases-clearing bunt in the sixth, which was aided by a few Marlins' errors to score two, or the team's performance with runners in scoring position as the key to tonight's offensive explosion. They were the plays that produced runs, after all. But Sullivan working a nine-pitch at-bat and then putting the pressure on the defense by going first-to-third sparked it all. 

Sullivan's first at-bat got Pérez into an uncomfortable position as he had only allowed one single to that point. Going first to third put even more pressure on the defense and the Pirates took advantage by scoring four and running Pérez from the game after three innings. That forced the Marlins to go to their bullpen, which was already depleted after having a bullpen game against the Rays on Sunday. 

"Just grinding at-bats out, regardless if it’s a young pitcher or a guy that’s been around," Reynolds said. "Getting on base and getting that pressure, first to third, can definitely get an offense going.”

With Endy Rodriguez (elbow inflammation) and Joey Bart (concussion) on the IL, Sullivan was recalled to provide depth behind Henry Davis, but he was more than that and that's exactly what Kelly is looking for. 

"We need everybody," Kelly said. "You talk about going on a little winning streak. We need everybody to step up and contribute and they have."