With one out and runners on first and second in the fourth inning tonight, Andrew McCutchen stepped into the batter's box at Angel Stadium as the Pirates held a one-run lead.

He has been in these types of moments throughout his career, of course. From helping the Pirates make three straight trips to the National League playoffs from 2013 to 2015 to winning an MVP award in the midst of five straight All-Star appearances, no moment was too big.

"At the end of the day, I always say ‘It starts with me.’ That’s kinda the way I look at it," McCutchen said. "When I think about the playoffs, about all that stuff. Those times where we were in the playoffs, I was having pretty good years. So, for me, I was like, ‘Hey, it starts with me’ and that’s more for myself, no one else. But I know if I can do what I know I’m capable of doing and going out there and consistently doing it, I think it can give us the spark that we need and I do feel that I’m very capable of doing that."

On this night, he showed it yet again:

That was McCutchen sending a 2-2 sinker from José Soriano over the wall in left center to lead the Pirates' offense to a season-high 18 hits and a 9-3 win over the Angels, kicking off this six-game West Coast road trip.

"Big moment right there," Derek Shelton said. "We're at 2-1, and to go 5-1 there, give us a little bit of breathing room, it was a big swing. He had good swings all night."

The Pirates only tallied three extra-base hits -- McCutchen's home run, a short chopper double by Oneil Cruz and a ninth-inning double by Isiah Kiner-Falefa. Bryan Reynolds provided the Pirates with their final runs in the ninth inning with a two-RBI single.

While those extra-base hits drove in four runs, the Pirates did what they've always said they need to do. They strung hits together -- 15 singles to be exact. 

Enmanuel Valdez was the only Pirate that stepped into the batter's box that didn't record a hit. Tommy Pham, Kiner-Falefa and Reynolds all recorded three hits. Cruz and Joey Bart both recorded two hits apiece and five different players -- Reynolds, McCutchen, Bart, Kiner-Falefa and Ke'Bryan Hayes -- recorded at least one RBI.

"It was awesome," Bart said after finding out the offense recorded 18 hits. "Hitting's contagious. It's just how it is. When you're not hitting, nobody's hitting. Find hits here or there and here they come. Name of the game is finding a hole through there and keeping it moving. Eighteen hits, yeah, that's a good night."

The story on this night, though, was McCutchen, who went 2-for-5, continuing to prove that he's still capable of producing at a high level, even in the limited opportunities he has received.

Because of Reynolds' shoulder injury earlier this season, McCutchen was held out of the lineup at times before being worked back into the outfield. Even then, he was limited in an effort to keep him healthy and save his legs for the long run.

However, there have also been a few questionable decisions like the one Shelton made on Saturday against the Guardians, when elected to pinch-hit Alexander Canario over McCutchen, Bart and Kiner-Falefa. Shelton cited Canario's "ability to drive the ball out of the ballpark," for his decision. 

Since joining the Pirates on April 3, Canario is hitting .087 in 23 at-bats with one home run, while McCutchen is off to a .246 start with two home runs and nine RBIs

So, McCutchen proved on this night that he can still do that as well, and he wants to continue to do that. With Reynolds fully healthy and back to playing right field, Shelton will will be able to utilized two of his best hitters.

"We didn't want to run him into the ground," Shelton said about limiting McCutchen through their first 23 games. "Yeah, we're a better lineup when he's in there. It's nice to be able to be back closer to full strength so he can be in there."

I asked both Shelton and McCutchen about their ongoing conversations over the last few weeks as they've tried to balance keeping him in the lineup so he can do what he did tonight on a consistent basis. 

Shelton said they talk consistently about how McCutchen is feeling but added that they also want to be mindful with the 38 year old. But, the way McCutchen sees it, as long as he's healthy, he wants to be in the lineup, whether that's as a designated hitter or an outfielder.

"If I’m able to do that, I’m in there, no matter what and that’s the way that I look at it," McCutchen said. "That’s no matter what. If I can be in there, if it means getting in the outfield more, then I’ll get in the outfield more. I showed I was capable of doing that, so I’m sure once a week isn’t bad. If I get the opportunity where it puts our team in a position to be able to win a game and knowing we have the best team we can have out there, then I’m all for it. That’s what I’m here for and that’s what I’m going to do. I’m down to play. I’m down to play every day. I don’t need off days. So just throw me out there until I say I can’t do it."