PITTSBURGH — To reach a benchmark never done before in the Derek Shelton era, it was only fitting that a trio of first-year Pirates helped make the feat possible.
Trade acquisition Mark Mathias plated a pair with a two-run single in the second inning, then another when he reached base on an error by Cincinnati shortstop Jose Barrero. Carlos Santana doubled home Andrew McCutchen in the seventh and the sizzling-hot Connor Joe, who prompted the PNC Park crowd of over 17,000 to chant his last name his fourth time, successfully reached base every plate appearance.
Their efforts, combined with some strong starting pitching and relatively clean seventh, eighth and ninth innings from the Pirates’ bullpen allowed the home squad to win its fifth game in a row, 4-2. Prior to Friday night, Shelton’s group failed to string five consecutive wins together in his first three years as manager.
The Pirates came awfully close less than two weeks ago, rattling off four victories before an inefficient Vince Velasquez was bested by the Chicago White Sox on April 8. The notable feat, which will force bench coach Don Kelly to shave his head as part of a bet between himself and Shelton, was one the Pirates came within striking distance of twice last season, but to no avail.
Friday night was yet another sign of both the growth and maturity of this year’s Pirates team relative to ones of the past few years. Even with star players like Ke’Bryan Hayes, Bryan Reynolds and McCutchen failing to record hits, the Pirates were still able to muscle out a victory.
While the win was significant simply because of its boost for clubhouse camaraderie, it also gave the second-place Pirates twice as many wins as losses, pushing their record to 14-7.
ON THE MOUND
Mitch Keller was perfect through three innings and kept a no-hitter intact until the top half of the fifth. He ran into a little bit of trouble in the fifth inning, a frame in which the Reds pushed two runs across, but was otherwise effective.
Tyler Stephenson doubled off the Clemente Wall to break up Keller’s potential no-no and came in to score on a Nick Senzel single. Barrero plated another Reds run on a sacrifice fly in the ensuing at bat, but Keller escaped by getting TJ Friedl to line out to Carlos Santana at first.
Keller was efficient, needing just 89 pitches — 60 of which were strikes — to get through six innings of work and produce an 11th straight quality start by a Pirates pitcher. Though he produced his second fewest strikeouts of the season, getting five of them, four came on pitches Reds batters stared at all the way into Austin Hedges’ mitt.
AT THE PLATE
Joe continued his dominance, both recently and against the Reds, with Friday night’s performance. By singling in the second inning, Joe extended his current hitting streak to four games. He has also reached with a hit in six straight games against the Reds, last failing to get aboard against Cincinnati with a base knock on April 30, 2022.
After going 3 for 3 Friday evening, Joe is now hitting .377 on the season.
Joe flashed the leather in right field, too, making a sliding catch in foul territory to snare a Stephenson fly ball. He had to range quite a good distance to make the play on the warning track just to the right of the third base dugout.
UP NEXT
Left-hander Rich Hill will take the mound for the Pirates in the third game of their four-game set with the Reds. Right-hander Luis Cessa gets the nod for the Reds.
