7-5-21 – By Gary Morgan
An outburst.
That’s what the club really needed and that’s what was delivered.
The game started looking anything opposite from what we wound up with as Chase De Jong struggled mightily in the first. 36 pitches, 1 run, 2 hits, a walk and a hit batsman. He escaped, but it certainly didn’t look like we were headed for a good night.
He would fight through 5 innings, and never surrender another run. It was honestly a very gutsy performance because the Braves don’t exactly swing for singles.
Encouraging that he fought through, but the story was the bats tonight.
Led by Ben Gamel.
I’ll pause here for a moment as you check the box score to make sure I’m not full of it.
Yeah, Ben Gamel tonight hit two bombs a double and had 6 RBI.
I busted the Pirates balls for bringing John Nogowski in so of course he went 2 for 3 with a walk and was on base for both Gamel bombs.
Ke’Bryan Hayes went 2 for 5 tonight, you can see the adjustments being made. He’s fighting the bat plane a bit, but it’s coming around and that opposite field blast really showcased it. His glove sure isn’t suffering, but against a lefty tonight it would have been good to see him take charge a bit more.
A blowout, in every sense of the word and tonight you’re buccos did damage.
Cathartic redemption against this ballclub in every way.
Back at it tomorrow as Ian Anderson takes on Chad Kuhl.
News & Notes
- Chase De Jong won his first game as a Pirate and 2nd in MLB tonight.
- The Pirates had almost no interest in pitching to Austin Riley tonight, not surprised after the last time they saw him.
- Adam Frazier was on base 4 times
- Bryan Reynolds had 2 more hits.
- Jacob Stallings had two knocks
- Kyle Keller closed out the game and looked good doing it. 10 run lead he was of course just cutting it loose at 98 but still, encouraging, after this team moves some players, guys like Keller will be needed.
- This was Gamel’s first 6 RBI game and 2nd 2 HR game.
- Pirates have won 12 of their last 18 against the Braves at home
Inside The Bucs Basement 