This past week, the Pittsburgh Pirates picked up win number 82 and clinched a winning season for the first time in the past two decades. Sure, there were guys who stepped up at the plate, and sure they drove in runs for the win. But there was one guy who stepped up even more. That man is Gerrit Cole.
Cole, who is pitching in his first major league season, took the hill for the Pirates this past Monday. The Pirates stood at 81 wins at the time. His counterpart on the other team was Yu Darvish, one of the league’s best strikeout pitchers, so it could be assumed that the Pirates’ runs may be a minimum for the night.
While that fact was true (the Pirates only scored one run on the night), it didn’t affect Cole’s pitching.
On the night, he pitched 7.0 strong innings, now allowing a single run to the Texas Rangers, and lasting long enough for the Pirates to score their lone run in the top of the seventh inning.
Two of Cole’s three allowed hits came within the first two innings, but he was able to work through them, not allowing the runner to pass first base, except for on a wild pitch in the second inning and two walks followed by two stolen bases in the sixth. The only other hit was cut short as the runner was cut down trying to stretch a single into a double.
Cole’s only trouble was in the sixth inning.
After walking Elvis Andrus, Andrus stole second base. Alex Rios was then walked and the two of them pulled off a double steal, putting two runners in scoring position in a 0-0 tie and bringing Adrian Beltre to the plate. Cole, though, was able to force a groundout and get out of the inning.
Cole then went three up, three down in the seventh to help seal the Pirates’ 82nd win of the season.
For that, Gerrit Cole is this week’s Pirate of the Week.
Photo Credit: ESPN.com
