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Pittsburgh Pirates Cap Off Strong Road Trip With a Series Victory in Minnesota
By Marty Leap
Starting Pitching Excels
The biggest blemish for the Pittsburgh Pirates for most of the month of April has been the team’s starting pitching. Well, in their series victory over the Minnesota Twins the starting pitching was the least of their concerns. In fact, it was the team’s strength.
Friday night JT Brubaker turned in his best start of his MLB career. In 7 innings of work Brubaker allowed 2 runs, on a pair of solo home runs, he did not walk a batter and struck out 5. Unfortunately, this would not be a enough as J.A. Happ carried a no-hitter into the 8th inning in a 2-0 loss for the Pittsburgh Pirates.
On the season Brubaker is looking like a breakout player for the Pirates. Through four starts this season he owns a 2.01 ERA, 4.12 FIP, 5.5% walk rate and a 25.3% strikeout rate. While the home run ball has plagued Brubaker (1.21 HR/9) he is emerging as a building block for the Pirate starting rotation moving forward.
Saturday afternoon veteran Trevor Cahill took the ball for the Pittsburgh Pirates. Cahill pitched 6 innings, allowing 1 run on 2 hits, a pair of walks and he struck out 2. While Cahill got tagged in his first start of the season against the Cincinnati Reds at Great American Ballpark, in his last three starts he has posted a 4.80 ERA, 2.09 FIP, 7.9% walk rate and a 23.8% strikeout rate.
Sunday afternoon Wil Crowe, who was acquired in the Josh Bell trade, made his first start with the Pittsburgh Pirates. While Crowe struggled in the 1st inning he was able to settle down and give the team 4 solid innings. He allowed 1 run on 4 hits, a pair of walks and he struck out 3.