Pittsburgh Pirates 6, San Francisco Giants 5: Stars And Stiffs

On Wednesday afternoon the Pittsburgh Pirates defeated the San Francisco Giants by a score of 6-5. With the victory, the Pirates swept their three game series with the Giants. Also, it capped off their West Coast road trip at a sparkling 5-1.

By no means was it easy, but the Pittsburgh Pirates went into San Francisco and swept the Giants. In the process the Pirates knocked the Giants out of first place in the National League West. They finished off the sweep with a 6-5 victory on Wednesday afternoon.

With their victory on Wednesday, the Pittsburgh Pirates remain one game behind the St. Louis Cardinals for the second National League Wild Card spot. Also, they are now just three games behind the Giants for the top NL Wild Card spot. Pennant fever baseball is the best.

After being shutdown by Matt Cain through the game’s first four innings, the Pirate offense exploded in the fifth inning. In that fifth inning the Bucs scored six runs on three walks, two hits, and a hit by pitch. Here are the Pittsburgh Pirates’ three stars and stiffs from Wednesday’s thrilling victory.

STARS

Pinch hitter Matt Joyce – Matt Joyce only had one at bat on Wednesday, but it was one of the most important of the entire game. In the top of the fifth inning Matt Joyce was called upon to pinch hit for Ivan Nova. And Joyce, like he has done so often this year, came through as a pinch hitter. 

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When Matt Joyce stepped to the plate the Pittsburgh Pirates were trailing 4-1. However, the Pirates had the bases loaded with no one out. Joyce ripped a ground ball through the right side of the infield for a base hit. This hit scored John Jaso and Jordy Mercer, cutting the Giants lead to 4-3, and moved Eric Fryer to third base. Matt Joyce would then come around to score a few batters later on Andrew McCutchen‘s two-run home run.

Center fielder Andrew McCutchen – Is he back? Is Andrew McCutchen back? Well, he just might be. The Pirates’ superstar center fielder has been playing his best baseball since the 2015 season the past few weeks, and that continued on Wednesday.

Andrew McCutchen went 2-for-4 with a two-run home run in the Pirates’ victory on Wednesday. McCutchen’s home run was his 17th of the season, tying him with Gregory Polanco for the team lead, and capped off the Pirates’ six run fifth inning. McCutchen’s home run gave the Pirates a lead they would never relinquish. After his performance on Wednesday, McCutchen’s wOBA (.321) and wRC+ (102) are finally above league average once again.

Ever since Clint Hurdle benched McCutchen for the entirety of the Pittsburgh Pirates’ series with the Atlanta Braves the first week of August, Cutch has looked like his old-self again. He has looked like the old Cutch both at the plate and in the field. So, is he back? Let’s certainly hope so.

Relief pitcher Juan Nicasio – Juan Nicasio continues to be a great relief pitcher. In Wednesday’s victory, Nicasio gave the Pittsburgh Pirates two scoreless innings of relief. These two innings played a big role in the Bucco victory.

In his two innings on the mound, Nicasio held the Giants to just one hit. Juan was also able to strikeout out a pair of Giants’ hitters. Juan Nicasio has quickly become one of the Pittsburgh Pirates’ most reliable relief pitchers.

STIFFS

Starting pitcher Ivan Nova – Wednesday afternoon was Ivan Nova’s third start with the Pittsburgh Pirates. However, it was the first start in which he hit some turbulence. Nova would go on to last just four innings on Wednesday.

In those four innings pitched, Ivan Nova allowed four runs on six hits. However, he did strikeout five batters while issuing zero walks. While it was not all bad from Nova on Wednesday, anytime you last just four innings as a starting pitcher, and put your team in a 4-0 hole as a result, you deserve to be on the stiff list.

Shortstop Jordy Mercer – For a second consecutive day Jordy Mercer finds himself on the stiffs list. The Pirate shortstop was 0-for-3 at the plate. However, he was able to draw a walk and score a run in the wild fifth inning.

The problem is that Jordy Mercer left three men on base on Wednesday afternoon. In the top of the sixth inning David Freese was on third and John Jaso on second with no one out, and Mercer popped out to Brandon Belt in foul territory. As a result, no run scored. Then in the top of the eighth inning, Jordy Mercer hit into an inning ending double play following a John Jaso walk.

Catcher Eric Fryer – Eric Fryer got the start behind the plate over Francisco Cervelli on Wednesday afternoon. And despite drawing a bases loaded walk, Fryer had a forgettable day. Outside of this walk, Fryer went 0-for-3 at the plate on Wednesday.

Fryer’s 0-for-3 included striking out swinging in the top of the sixth inning. While this may not sound like much, at the time the Pirates’ had runners on second and third with just one out. In that situation, you at least have to put the ball in play.

Eric Fryer now has a wOBA of just .293 and a wRC+ of just 82 on the season. Combine this with some recent defensive struggles, and I really miss Chris Stewart. Luckily, he should be back as Cervelli’s back up soon.

Next: Is It Too Soon To Extend Taillon?

That will do it for Wednesday’s game. Enjoy the off day on Thursday everyone. I know I will, especially since ya boy turns 24 years young on Thursday.

Friday night the Pittsburgh Pirates start a vital series at home with the Miami Marlins. The Pirates will send Gerrit Cole to the mound on Friday, and the Fish will counter with Tom Koehler. Get ready for an exciting weekend of postseason caliber baseball at PNC Park, everyone!