After languishing as the lowest-scoring team in the majors this season, the Pittsburgh Pirates finally have picked up their offensive pace, scoring 32 runs during a five-game span.
The Pirates will try to extend that roll Wednesday as their four-game series with the Cardinals continues in St. Louis.
Pittsburgh lost 7-6 Monday, then rebounded to win 8-3 Tuesday for its fifth victory in six games.
During this offensive surge, Pirates manager Don Kelly applauded the progress from his batters.
“That commitment to the plan and the approach, staying in the middle of the field and attacking the heart of the plate, I think the guys are doing a good job,” Kelly said. “[We] need to continue to get better, especially with runners in scoring position. Continue to stay with that approach when we get into those moments and continue to get better and score more runs.”
The Pirates got outfielder Oneil Cruz back in their lineup Tuesday after his recovery from a concussion. He had been sidelined since Aug. 12.
In his two rehab appearances for Double-A Altoona, Cruz had a triple, three RBIs, two runs, two walks and a stolen base. In his first game back with the Pirates, Cruz went 0-for-4 with a run and an RBI.
Pittsburgh optioned outfielder Ronny Simon to Triple-A Indianapolis to make room for Cruz. The Pirates also adjusted their pitching staff, designating Andrew Heaney for assignment and recalling pitcher Dauri Moreta from Indianapolis.
On Wednesday, the Pirates will start Carmen Mlodzinski (3-7, 3.89 ERA). The Cardinals, who have lost nine of their last 13 games, will ask fellow right-hander Sonny Gray (12-6, 4.33) to try to cool down the Pirates.
Gray allowed three runs or fewer in four of his past five starts. He earned his victory in his last outing, 7-4 against the Tampa Bay Rays last Thursday, while allowing three runs on six hits in five innings.
He had 33 strikeouts in 29 innings over that five-game span. Gray is 2-1 with a 2.45 ERA against the Pirates this season and 7-5 with a 3.81 ERA in 15 career appearances (14 starts) against them.
Mlodzinski is 2-0 with an ERA of 2.04 in nine career appearances (two starts) against the Cardinals. He has faced them twice this season, allowing three rund in 9 2/3 inning.
Mlodzinski was credited with the win against Colorado on Saturday after striking out five in two scoreless innings of relief in a 5-1 Pirates victory.
The Cardinals have seen two of their key players heat up at the plate.
In his past 13 games outfielder Alec Burleson has batted .364 with nine RBIs.
“I’ve definitely grown as a hitter,” Burleson said. “Everything is always going to be a work in progress, but I think I’ve gotten really good at doing what I want in the box instead of reacting to what they’re trying to do to me.”
Infielder Nolan Gorman also is in a groove. He hit a two-run homer Tuesday and he has two doubles, four RBIs, three runs and four walks in his last six games.
“He’s done a nice job, man,” Cardinals manager Oliver Marmol said of Gorman. “I’m proud of the work being put in and that he’s been consistent with his approach and how he’s gone about his day in terms of what goes into each at-bat, the plate discipline, controlling the strike zone.”
–Field Level Media
