Coming off a disappointing series split with the Washington Nationals, the Pirates looked to get back on track against the first-place Tampa Bay Rays in the AL East.
The first game of the series featured Pirates rookie Bubba Chandler against journeyman Nick Martinez. This Friday night game was the first time the Pirates debuted their beautiful new City Connect jerseys. Black jerseys, black pants, and mustard-yellow hats gave fans flashbacks to the last World Series win in Pittsburgh from 1979.
The new Pirates swag got them off to a nice start as first baseman Spencer Horowitz collected an RBI double off of Martinez, who has never retired Horowitz in any at-bat. Chandler was cruising through the game until the top of the sixth, giving up a single to Rays all-star third baseman Junior Caminero to tie the game at one a piece. Chandler’s team picked him right back up as center fielder Oneil Cruz golfed a two-run homer to right field to give the Pirates a two-run lead.
The Pirates got some insurance runs as second baseman Brandon Lowe doubled in a pair in the bottom of the eighth. The Pirates went on to take the opening game of the series by a final score of 5-1.
Game two of the series brought Pirates Cy Young award winner Paul Skenes against Rays righty Drew Rasmussen. The stadium was packed, as fans were lined up early to get their Paul Skenes Cy Young award bobblehead.
The Pirates gave their ace some early runs, as right fielder Ryan O’Hearn would smash a two-run shot to give the Pirates an early two-run lead in the first inning. Then, in the bottom of the fourth, designated hitter Marcell Ozuna hit a two-run homer of his own to double the Pirates’ lead. The game then entered a rain delay as PNC Park was hit with a massive storm. The delay would last two and a half hours, pulling Skenes out of the game after four shutout innings.
As soon as the natural disaster was over, a pitching disaster took place for the Pirates. The Rays scored five runs in the top of the fifth inning, with Pirates reliever Cam Sanders giving up four earned before getting pulled from the game. The Pirates did not quit, and third baseman Nick Yorke tied the game with a single in the eighth.
Extra innings were needed for this one as the Rays took the lead in the top of the 11th due to a missed pick-off attempt by reliever Yohan Ramirez. Shortstop Konnor Griffin tied the game in the bottom half on a fielder’s choice, but this hope did not last long. At the top of the 12th, Rays center fielder Cedric Mullins would silence what was left of the crowd with a two-run blast to give the Rays a two-run lead. The Pirates did not go down without a fight, scoring one in the bottom half of the inning but ultimately falling short. The Rays would tie the series, defeating the Pirates by a final score of 8-7.
The rubber match had a pitching matchup of Pirates righty Mitch Keller versus Rays southpaw Shane McClanahan. Pittsburgh would get off to another quick start with an RBI fielder’s choice by right fielder Bryan Reynolds in the first inning to put the Pirates up by one.
The game was quiet until the Rays scored two runs on Keller off a single by Rays catcher Hunter Feduccia in the top of the fifth. Like they have all year, the Pirates responded, first by tying up the game on a single by second baseman Nick Gonzalez, then a two-run single by Reynolds put the Pirates up two in the bottom of the fifth. The Pirates’ offense came alive with a pinch-hit solo homer by Horwitz in the sixth, followed by a solo shot by Yorke in the eighth.
The Pirates put in relief pitcher Wilber Dotel, making his MLB debut. He would give up a home run to his first batter, the Rays’ all-star Caminerio. Dotel would retire the next three batters, along with picking up his first MLB strikeout to secure the series win for Pittsburgh.
The Pirates won the series, taking two of three from the Rays and winning on Sunday by a final score of 6-3. The Pirates will travel to Texas to take on an old friend in Andrew McCutchen.