Pittsburgh Pirates: Sweep Remains Elusive in Series Victory Against the Phillies

(Photo by Justin Berl/Getty Images)
(Photo by Justin Berl/Getty Images) /
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PITTSBURGH, PA – JULY 31: Jacob Stallings #58 of the Pittsburgh Pirates is hugged by Phillip Evans #24 after hitting a walk-off RBI fielders choice to give the Pirates a 3-2 win over the Philadelphia Phillies during the game at PNC Park on July 31, 2021 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Justin Berl/Getty Images)
PITTSBURGH, PA – JULY 31: Jacob Stallings #58 of the Pittsburgh Pirates is hugged by Phillip Evans #24 after hitting a walk-off RBI fielders choice to give the Pirates a 3-2 win over the Philadelphia Phillies during the game at PNC Park on July 31, 2021 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Justin Berl/Getty Images) /

Jacob Stallings continues to be Mr. Clutch

Few Pirate hitters have been as clutch in recent seasons as catcher Jacob Stallings has. His clutchness continued in Saturday night’s 3-2 walk off victory when Stallings drove in Bryan Reynolds from third base via a ground out with one out in the 9th inning.

“Once he (Reynolds) got to third base I felt pretty good about our chances,” Stallings told reporters after the game. Well, it comes as no surprise that Stallings liked the team’s chances as this was his fourth walk off hit this season.

Walk off hits are nothing new to Stallings, either. For his career he now has 7 walk off hits in just 214 career games. Stallings has certainly earned his reputation of being a clutch hitter since making his MLB debut.

It’s not just in walk off situations that Stallings thrives. On the season he is hitting .414 with 4 doubles, 3 home runs and 5 walks in high leverage situations. In his career he has hit .391 with 5 doubles, 3 home runs 9 walks and just 12 strikeouts in 76 plate appearances in high leverage situations.

The past three seasons Stallings has quietly emerged as one of the better catchers in baseball and his +15 Defensive Runs Saved leads all MLB catchers this season. His ability to come through in the clutch is part of this. Stallings has certainly earned the ‘Mr. Clutch’ moniker.