The Pittsburgh Pirates entered their finale with the Kansas City Royals on Wednesday night with the opportunity to do something they had not done in two months, sweep a series. That feat would be accomplished after closing out the series with a 4-1 victory. The formula for this sweep was one of stellar pitching, backed by timely offense.
A few runs early on is all Pittsburgh would need on the night. Bryan Reynolds got things started with a 452 ft. solo home run in the first inning. Vinny Capra plated the first run of the second inning on a double to left. He would come in to score when Jack Suwinski singled to center. The lone Kansas City run came in the fourth on a Bobby Witt Jr. solo homer. Suwinski would add an insurance run in the seventh when he homered to center.
Andre Jackson gave the Pirates a solid start over 5.2 innings. He would allow one run on two hits with seventh strikeouts and two walks. Ryan Borucki collected the final out of the sixth via strikeout before Thomas Hatch took over in the seventh. Hatch would walk one batter during that time. Colin Holderman gave up one hit and collected a strikeout in the eighth, and David Bednar would do the same in the ninth on his way to his 29th save of the year.
Royals starter Angel Zerpa was tagged for three runs on five hits with three strikeouts and two walks in 5.2 innings on the mound. Colin Snider worked 1.1 innings giving up a run on one hit with a strikeout. Taylor Clarke and Jackson Kowar each pitched an inning, combining to walk one batter and strikeout two.
While Kanas City is not having a great year, it is nice to see Pittsburgh take care of business against a lesser opponent. That is something we have not seen often this season. After wrapping up their second-best month of the season, the Pirates will head across the state of Missouri to begin a three-game series with the St. Louis Cardinals on Friday night. Let us hope that their success against opponents with worse records continues over the weekend.
Record vs. Royals: 3-0
Record vs. American League: 18-25
Record on the Road: 29-37
Overall Record: 61-73
And…
As Always…
Let’s Go Bucs!
