Late Game Heroics Looking to Spark Pirates

After not scoring a run all game, the Pittsburgh Pirates fought back last night to beat the San Francisco Giants in walk-off fashion 3-2. The offense is hoping to use this momentum to get them going again for the rest of the series.

Entering Friday night's game against the San Francisco Giants, the Pittsburgh Pirates offense had been really bad. They had scored two runs or less in nine of their previous 11 games, and things weren't looking good again. The Pirates entered the ninth inning down 1-0, and even though they were out-hitting the Giants 6-3, they weren't bringing runners home. The only bright spot was that the top of the lineup was due up with the National League's hit leader set to lead it off. The Pirates would rally to tie the game on a Bryan Reynolds single and forced extra innings. Neither team scored in the 10th, but it was the Pirates who had the last laugh as Gregory Polanco won the game in the bottom of the 11th with a sacrifice fly.

 Extra innings was full of clutch moments from the Pirates, from Wilmer Difo moving the runner over with one out in the 10th, to Polanco's two-strike sacrifice fly. For an offense that hasn't been able to score runs on a consistent basis, a small spark like this could be what they need to get going. The team has had opportunities during this last 11-game stretch but just hasn't been able to take advantage of those opportunities. However, tonight they showed that they can hit the ball and come through in the clutch when they need to. The key is finding consistency, and that is what this team will be working on moving forward. Today, we look at the extra-inning comeback, and what these Pirates hitters can do to build off that success.

A Clutch Comeback

Friday's game was a pitcher's duel throughout with both Miguel Yajure and Kevin Gausman each dealing on the mound. In fact, it was Gausman who got the first hit of the game for either team, and the Pirates immediately followed with their first hit in the bottom of the fourth inning. However, despite the lack of offense, the Pirates had a couple of chances to take a lead early. They had a leadoff single by Adam Frazier, one of four hits on the night for the second baseman, and failed to move him around in the fourth. Then, they had a leadoff double by Gregory Polanco in the fifth and a one-out double by Adam Frazier in the seventh and couldn't bring them around. 

The Pirates reached an all-time low mark with a .581 ops with runners in scoring position and had been spoiling many opportunities. So, entering the ninth, there wasn't much confidence. Adam Frazier did his thing hitting a lead-off single and Kevin Newman followed with a single to put runners at the corners. Then, the Giants turned to reliever Jake McGee, who had 23 strikeouts in 16 innings of work. With the way the Pirates were striking out, 11 on the day, there was some worry there. However, Bryan Reynolds came through with a single to tie the game and put the winning run at second with no outs. McGee would then live up to his numbers as he struck out the next three Pirates and sent the game to extras.

Neither team scored a run in the 10th, but the Giants struck in the 11th, scoring the courtesy runner to make it a 2-1 game. The Pirates had the top of the lineup coming to the plate, and at least a hope of trying the game with the NL hit leader coming to the plate. Frazier was 3-4 on the day and was looking to at least move the runner third. However, he did much more than that as he lined a lead-off triple off the right-field wall, scoring Michael Perez and tying the game at 2-2. Mr. Clutch Kevin Newman ended up popping out for the first out, and Giants manager Gabe Kapler walked Reynolds and Will Craig intentionally to bring Polanco to the plate. Polanco fell behind 0-2 and then lifted a sacrifice fly to deep right-center to win the game. It was Polanco's second RBI in the last three games and was the second walk-off hit of Polanco's career.

Getting the Offense Going

The biggest problem for this offense this season has been their almost inability to hit with runners in scoring position. The team batting average is already low at .222 (23rd in MLB), but it completely drops off with runners in scoring position. The Pirates rank dead last in all of baseball with just a .200 batting average this season with runners in scoring position and a .205 batting average with runners in scoring position in the last seven games. After the top of the Pirates lineup, there is really no support after that seventh spot, and that has been an issue for the Pirates all season long. The Pirates number six hitters are hitting just .193, seven hitters are hitting .236, and eight hitters are hitting a measly .128.

With all the offense at the top of the lineup, the Pirates are setting themselves up for leaving guys on base. Injuries have been a part of these struggles, as the team has been without Ke'Bryan Hayes since the second game of the year, and have been missing Colin Moran for the last week. The Pirates have been looking for someone to step up, but no one has fully taken advantage of that opportunity. Guys like Erik Gonzalez, Wilmer Difo, and Ka'ai Tom have all been given chances to shine, but haven't been able to come through. When a team has no power like the Pirates, they need to rely on clutch hits, and that just hasn't happened at the bottom of the Pirate's lineup.

We have been saying it for a couple of weeks now, but this offense has been yearning for a game that helps them break out the bats. With seven hits in the game today, they are hoping that hitting can become contagious like it was at the end of April. It is going to take that consistent hitting all season long if the Pirates want to be successful, and they are hoping to get some more power from their lineup. Will Craig was moved up to the clean-up spot after his first career home run last night, but he didn't do well with the pressure going 0-4. Even though the offense came late on Friday, helpfully it is a springboard to get these hitters going again and get the team back on track.

After the walk-off win Friday, the Pittsburgh Pirates (16-22) look to take a lead in this four-game series against the San Francisco Giants (23-15) tonight at 6:35 pm. Tyler Anderson (3-3, 3.05) takes the mound on an extra day of rest as he tries to remain consistent against wily veteran Johnny Cueto (2-1, 3.52) for the Giants. You can watch the game live on AT&T Sportsnet, listen on 93.7 The Fan, or follow along with us on Twitter at @Buccos_Cove.

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