Jared Triolo, Jake Mangum, Tyler Callihan and Billy Cook high-five after the victory Sunday in Denver.
After two disheartening losses in which they scored just four runs in 18 innings and squandered two separate bases-loaded opportunities in the ninth inning, the Pirates' bats came alive in an 8-6 win over the Rockies here today at Coors Field.
The Pirates, now back at the .500 mark following a 3-3 road trip, collected 13 hits, including a two-run homer by NickGonzales that sparked it all in the fourth inning. Jared Triolo, Jake Mangum and TylerCallihan contributed with run-scoring hits in the middle innings, but no hit was more significant than this one:
HOME RUN: Bryan Reynolds goes 433 feet to right for a three-run shot, his 11th of the season. Followed singles from Spencer Horwitz and Brandon Lowe. This is the type of offensive performance that was expected all series. Pirates, 8-1 -- From José Negron in Denver…
That's Bryan Reynolds, batting .319 with a 1.013 OPS this month, sending a ball 433 feet to right field for a three-run homer, his 11th of the season, that provided the visitors with a seven-run cushion in the eighth inning. It ended up being more meaningful than first imagined, though, considering the hitter-friendly venue this game was played in and the struggles the bullpen continues to endure.
The Rockies scored five runs in the final two innings off of DennisSantana and GregorySoto, coming one long ball shy of potentially tying the game in the ninth inning. Instead, a double play ball ended the threat and Reynolds' homer wound up being the difference.
"No lead is safe here. We've seen that before," Reynolds said. "The game can turn in a hurry, so all the insurance runs you can get here are big. (The homer) felt great. I felt like it was flush and a good, true homer. Nice one to watch."
The homer was the second hit of the day for Reynolds, who was scratched from Friday's lineup with groin discomfort, but has still managed to put together a 12-game hitting streak dating back to June 9. He and SpencerHorwitz, who enjoyed a two-hit afternoon of his own, have been two of the more consistent threats in the lineup over the last two weeks. On this day, they weren't alone, though. All but one starter had at least one hit and there were four multi-hit performances, including a three-hit showing from Mangum.
The shortcomings of the previous two games were flushed and an offense that has had to operate without OneilCruzand KonnorGriffin, who is expected to begin a rehab stint in the minors this week, found a way to provide some much-needed offensive support to avoid a sweep heading into a six-game homestand against the Mariners and Reds.
"Obviously the first two were not what we wanted, but we turned the page pretty quick," Reynolds said. "We put up a bunch of runs here, got the win and have a happier off day.”
THE ASYLUM
Reynolds adds insurance with a 'good, true homer'
GETTY
Jared Triolo, Jake Mangum, Tyler Callihan and Billy Cook high-five after the victory Sunday in Denver.
After two disheartening losses in which they scored just four runs in 18 innings and squandered two separate bases-loaded opportunities in the ninth inning, the Pirates' bats came alive in an 8-6 win over the Rockies here today at Coors Field.
The Pirates, now back at the .500 mark following a 3-3 road trip, collected 13 hits, including a two-run homer by Nick Gonzales that sparked it all in the fourth inning. Jared Triolo, Jake Mangum and Tyler Callihan contributed with run-scoring hits in the middle innings, but no hit was more significant than this one:
That's Bryan Reynolds, batting .319 with a 1.013 OPS this month, sending a ball 433 feet to right field for a three-run homer, his 11th of the season, that provided the visitors with a seven-run cushion in the eighth inning. It ended up being more meaningful than first imagined, though, considering the hitter-friendly venue this game was played in and the struggles the bullpen continues to endure.
The Rockies scored five runs in the final two innings off of Dennis Santana and Gregory Soto, coming one long ball shy of potentially tying the game in the ninth inning. Instead, a double play ball ended the threat and Reynolds' homer wound up being the difference.
"No lead is safe here. We've seen that before," Reynolds said. "The game can turn in a hurry, so all the insurance runs you can get here are big. (The homer) felt great. I felt like it was flush and a good, true homer. Nice one to watch."
The homer was the second hit of the day for Reynolds, who was scratched from Friday's lineup with groin discomfort, but has still managed to put together a 12-game hitting streak dating back to June 9. He and Spencer Horwitz, who enjoyed a two-hit afternoon of his own, have been two of the more consistent threats in the lineup over the last two weeks. On this day, they weren't alone, though. All but one starter had at least one hit and there were four multi-hit performances, including a three-hit showing from Mangum.
The shortcomings of the previous two games were flushed and an offense that has had to operate without Oneil Cruz and Konnor Griffin, who is expected to begin a rehab stint in the minors this week, found a way to provide some much-needed offensive support to avoid a sweep heading into a six-game homestand against the Mariners and Reds.
"Obviously the first two were not what we wanted, but we turned the page pretty quick," Reynolds said. "We put up a bunch of runs here, got the win and have a happier off day.”
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