It was a very successful first half of the season for the Pittsburgh Pirates as it has the third best record in the major leagues. With that in mind it is time to revisit some of the successes in the first half of the season.
10. Home opener– This was mentioned in an earlier article so I will keep the description short. A home opener always makes every baseball fan excited as they have waited a long time for the season to begin. The familiar sights, smells and sounds bring a smile to every fan’s face not to mention the Pirates held on to beat the Detroit Tigers.
9. Jeff Locke proves himself vs Indians– It has been an up and down season for Locke. Both Locke and Pedro Alvarez have had the loudest negative reactions this season so it had to feel good for the left-handed starting pitcher when he tossed eight scoreless innings against the Cleveland Indians. The eight innings tied a career high and he retired 19 consecutive batters to end the outing while receiving a well-deserved applause.
8. Deolis Guerra earns first win in Detroit– This spot is earned due to a combination of a long stint of battling in the minor leagues and the fact that he went three innings in a 14-inning win once again against the Tigers. This was before an injury sidelined Miguel Cabrera. Guerra’s changeup is his best pitch and several players on the team have called it filthy. Guerra came up when Rob Scahill went on the 15-day DL and has a 0.90 ERA.
7. Polanco hit proves to be winner vs Cubs– Though he excelled against left-handed pitching in the minor leagues, Gregory Polanco had struggles against them in the major leagues. With Jeff Locke having an earlier than usual removal from the game the Pirates had to come from behind to earn a four-game split in a home series. Polanco’s single came off Phil Coke an established major league reliever.
6. Cole comes through in clutch– The bases are loaded with no outs against the Cubs. Gerrit Cole was on the mound and had a moment of clarity. He was going to do it all himself and he did just that getting out of the inning. Cole has had to become the ace many expected him to be early this season and this was a moment at the beginning of the season that showed he was capable of doing that.
5. Pirates sweep home series against Padres– For 14 years one thing was always constant, the San Diego Padres would come to PNC Park and take a series. This year that streak stopped. For the first time since 1994, the Pirates earned a sweep. Manager Clint Hurdle offered no explanation but did state that winning the series could cross one item off the list.
4. Kang goes deep in San Diego– This may seem as though it was a typical home run, but when it was broadcast all over Korea suddenly it gets placed into perspective. Jung Ho Kang has large expectations in South Korea and is viewed as a rock star over there. There are demanding days where he does interviews in Korean and in English with his interpreter H.K. Kim. Kang is now used to his surroundings and the team enjoys his sense of humor.
3. A.J. Burnett– It was best to put everything in here. This final season has almost been a redemption tour. The salute on Opening Day, the home run, the All-Star Berth, the list really goes on. Everything Burnett has done was for his son and what a final act it has been. There were some concerned about last season in Philadelphia and the end of his 2013 season but perhaps the meaning of his tattoo an Uncle Kracker lyric which starts “Follow me everything is alright” may best define his season.
2. July 11 vs Cardinals– This was a game the Pirates would have lost in the past, but this is not the past. This is a resilient Pirates team which plays until the final out. Francisco Cervelli and Clint Hurdle did not even make it into the third inning of the game. A.J. Burnett homered and Gregory Polanco continued his string of recent clutch hitting. A 14-inning game which totaled just over five hours was mental warfare and the Pirates, who earlier in the season struggled in extra innings pulled through.
1. July 12 vs Cardinals– These two games have defined the Pirates season to date and for those who got to see the Pirates on national television for the first time in those games had to have a favorable impression. Outside of Mark Melancon, Trevor Rosenthal easily was the most dominant closer in the National League. To score three runs in the ninth against him just does not happen. The game represented a prize fight and in the top of the 10th inning it looked like the Cardinals had a knockout punch. An important relay throw from the outfield saved a third run from scoring and the Pirates never looked back. Now the Pirates are 2.5 games back, a critical win at the end of the first half that may be a turning point in the season.
Photo credit: Keith Srakocic/AP Photo
