Pirates Earn At Least A Series Split

Prior to the start of this series against St. Louis, Pittsburgh had dropped nine straight games to the Red Birds dating back to last year. Sure, it isn’t the same dominating Cardinals team, but there is something to be said about a young, and obviously rebuilding team, coming into Busch Stadium and taking the first two games of the series; the first in easy fashion and the second in a mid-inning give and take battle.

Young guys need to experience success, and not just on the individual level; although that is of the upmost importance. Obviously, this is not going to be a winning season, but winning five out of their last seven-following a ten game losing streak-is also relevant on another level to the players on the field.

This 5-4 victory might not mean much as far the overall standings; however battling with a Division Foe and coming out on top, rather than folding when they lost the lead, says a lot about this team in my book.

News and Notes

• In spite of not having his best stuff most of the night, Wil Crowe got his first Big League Win. Through four innings Crowe had allowed four runs on eight hits,two of them solo shots, while walking two and only striking out one. Nevertheless, with the lead in the fifth, he put the Cardinals down in order.
• Jacob Stallings comes through in the “clutch” to provide the Pirates what would be the game winning RBI in the top of the 5th. On the season Stallings is batting just .226, with a .698 OPS; however, he has posted a .313/.389/.563 slash line in close games, where the outcome hangs in the balance.

• Ke’Bryan has posted three multi-hit games in a row, and has reached base safely in 29 straight games.
• We keep on talking about Bryan Reynolds with the bat, but what about his play with the glove.

• It should be noted that the Pirates are at the beginning of a 20 game stretch, without a day off. Pitcher and player usage should be very interesting to watch over the next couple of weeks.
• Prior to the start of the game the Pirates swung a trade with the Milwaukee Brewers; sending Jandel Gustave and Troy Stokes, Jr to the Brew Crew for recent International Signee, 17 year old Venezuelan Catcher Samuel Escudero. In 15 appearances for the AAA-Indianapolis Indians Gustave had struck out 18 in 15 innings, recorded five saves and touched 100+ on the gun as the team’s presumptive closer. Stokes, Jr. on the other hand had batted .169 for the Indians and .111 in a brief stint for the Pirates. Prior to coming to the Pirates, Stokes, Jr. had last played in the Brewers system in 2019, before being snatched up by the Detroit and then Pittsburgh.

The Pirates and Cardinals have a pretty quick turnaround as they are back at it today at 2:15 PM EST, with JT Brubaker (4-6, 3.77 ERA) on the mound against the epitome of an all time antagonist, Adam Wainwright (5-5, 3.74 ERA).