Don Kelly and the Pirates' offense have coined a phrase that describes their desired offensive approach. While the big hits -- doubles, triples, home runs -- are nice, they just want to "pass the baton."
En route to a 9-2 win over the Mets tonight at PNC Park, the Pirates did just that. In their 12-hit performance, they had 11 singles. Five of them came consecutively in the second inning and led to three runs. Three more came in their six-run eighth inning as they worked four walks and Bryan Reynolds doubled for the team's lone extra-base hit.
"Matt Hague and I were talking in that second inning, there were five singles in a row that were up there. You can score a lot of runs by hitting some singles and running the bases well. We did that, going first to third a few times," Kelly said. "We found ways to just pass the baton like we talked about, lengthen the lineup out. Later in the game, get those walks and the base hits and a double. It was really nice to add on there."
The Pirates scored nine runs for the second straight game, which is the second-most runs they've scored in a two-game stretch this season. They scored 19 in two games against the Diamondbacks in late May.
"We were just feeding off each other from the guy in front, having a good AB and that leads to another good AB, especially after the rain delay there," Nick Gonzales said. "We just put our foot down on the pedal and kept on going. What did we have, five singles in a row? You do that to any pitcher and that’s demoralizing, for sure.”
Of the 10 Pirates who stepped to the plate, eight recorded hits. Andrew McCutchen, Ke'Bryan Hayes, Joey Bart and Gonzales all recorded two hits while Hayes, Reynolds and McCutchen drove in two runs apiece.
With the lack of power the Pirates have, -- they have the fewest home runs (56) and second-fewest doubles (108) in Major League Baseball -- they have to string hits together to consistently generate offense. Against the Diamondbacks on May 27, they had five consecutive baserunners reach in a seven-run inning that led to a 9-6 win. The next day, they had four base hits and a walk to score five runs in an inning, leading to a 10-1 win.
"I think that guys are going up there, maybe a little more relaxed," Kelly said. "I don't know, but the compete has been there. We haven't been giving at-bats away. Grinding through and figuring out a way to put the ball in play and score some runs."
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THE ASYLUM
Greg Macafee
3:02 am - 06.29.2025NORTH SHOREPassing 'the baton' for offense
Don Kelly and the Pirates' offense have coined a phrase that describes their desired offensive approach. While the big hits -- doubles, triples, home runs -- are nice, they just want to "pass the baton."
En route to a 9-2 win over the Mets tonight at PNC Park, the Pirates did just that. In their 12-hit performance, they had 11 singles. Five of them came consecutively in the second inning and led to three runs. Three more came in their six-run eighth inning as they worked four walks and Bryan Reynolds doubled for the team's lone extra-base hit.
"Matt Hague and I were talking in that second inning, there were five singles in a row that were up there. You can score a lot of runs by hitting some singles and running the bases well. We did that, going first to third a few times," Kelly said. "We found ways to just pass the baton like we talked about, lengthen the lineup out. Later in the game, get those walks and the base hits and a double. It was really nice to add on there."
The Pirates scored nine runs for the second straight game, which is the second-most runs they've scored in a two-game stretch this season. They scored 19 in two games against the Diamondbacks in late May.
"We were just feeding off each other from the guy in front, having a good AB and that leads to another good AB, especially after the rain delay there," Nick Gonzales said. "We just put our foot down on the pedal and kept on going. What did we have, five singles in a row? You do that to any pitcher and that’s demoralizing, for sure.”
Of the 10 Pirates who stepped to the plate, eight recorded hits. Andrew McCutchen, Ke'Bryan Hayes, Joey Bart and Gonzales all recorded two hits while Hayes, Reynolds and McCutchen drove in two runs apiece.
With the lack of power the Pirates have, -- they have the fewest home runs (56) and second-fewest doubles (108) in Major League Baseball -- they have to string hits together to consistently generate offense. Against the Diamondbacks on May 27, they had five consecutive baserunners reach in a seven-run inning that led to a 9-6 win. The next day, they had four base hits and a walk to score five runs in an inning, leading to a 10-1 win.
"I think that guys are going up there, maybe a little more relaxed," Kelly said. "I don't know, but the compete has been there. We haven't been giving at-bats away. Grinding through and figuring out a way to put the ball in play and score some runs."
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