The Pittsburgh Pirates and Chicago White Sox began a short two game interleague series from PNC Park Tuesday night. These two teams couldn’t be more different, as Pittsburgh sits at the bottom of the N.L. Central division, while Chicago is at the top of the A.L. Central. However, games are not won based on records, but performance on the field. Tonight, the Pirates would perform better and come away with a 6-3 victory.
Early on this game was a pitcher’s duel, as Pittsburgh would plate the only two runs through the first six innings. The first came in the third when Adam Frazier hit a solo home run to right. They would score again in the sixth on a Bryan Reynolds RBI single to center. At that point Pittsburgh starter Tyler Anderson was cruising on the mound. He would run into trouble in the seventh when he allowed a three-run homer to Yasmani Grandal.
Anderson pitched 6.2 innings and allowed three runs on five hits with four strikeouts and one walk. One could argue that Derek Shelton should have pulled him after allowing the two base runners, but Anderson was pitching well and deserved a shot to finish the inning. It may not have worked out that way, but his offense would pick him up in the bottom half of the seventh inning.
Down 3-2, the Pirates offense would come through with a four run seventh to take the lead for good. A bunt single by Kevin Newman, along with a throwing error by Yoan Moncada, allowed Gregory Polanco to score from second to tie the game. Erik Gonzalez then drove in two runs with a single to left. The final tally of the night came when Reynolds plated Gonzalez with a single to center.
The Pittsburgh bullpen also did their job by not letting the White Sox add to their lead or make a comeback. David Bednar allowed one hit, but got the final out of the seventh and the win. Kyle Crick would pitch a scoreless eighth, while walking one batter and striking out three. Richard Rodriguez then earned his ninth save of the season by collecting the final three outs in the ninth.
The win tonight clinched a winning home stand for the Pirates, which is huge considering they went winless on their last road trip. This short two game series will wrap up tomorrow afternoon at 12:35pm. Pittsburgh will send Chase De Jong to the mound, while the White Sox will counter with Dylan Cease.
Record vs. White Sox: 1-0
Record vs. American League: 8-6
Record at Home: 16-20
Overall Record: 26-45
And…
As Always…
Let’s Go Bucs!
