DETROIT – Starling Marte is usually an upbeat presence in the Pirates’ clubhouse with his easygoing manner and carefree attitude.
However, Marte admitted he hasn‘t been himself lately or had much fun in the early part of the season. He has struggled at the plate, looking completely lost at times.
“I always try to be happy, be the guy laughing and joking because I like to have fun,” Marte told me in his ever-improving English. “It’s been tough, though. I want to get hits. I want to help the team. I don’t like when it feels like I’m not doing enough to help the team win.
“The rest of the guys have been really good in the clubhouse, though. They keep joking with me, trying to make me laugh, making sure I keep my head up.”
Marte had reason to smile Tuesday night as his two-run home run with two outs in the top of the 10th inning gave the Pirates a 5-3 victory over the Tigers at Comerica Park. The Pirates improved to 9-6 with their eighth win in the last 11 games.
It was just Marte’s second home run of the season after he set a career high with 20 last year. He is also hitting a paltry .213/.250/.410 through 65 plate appearances.
However, the Pirates know Marte remains the guy who drives their suspect offense. He is the most dynamic player on their roster.
“He’s been an absolute contagion at times,” Clint Hurdle said. “We have a lot of different guys who have contributed over the years, but he’s the one constant. When he goes, the team usually picks up on the energy he brings.
“He can beat you in so many ways. He can beat you with his legs. He can top a ball off and get an infield single. He can run one out of the ballpark. He can go get it in the outfield. He can throw somebody out. He can steal a base. He’s an exciting guy to watch.”
Marte’s home run came off Shane Greene, who has been among the hottest closers in the game. This time, though, Greene was brought in to keep the score tied at 3 after the Tigers forced extra innings with a ninth-inning run off Keone Kela.
Greene had not allowed a run in eight games and eight innings this season, converting all eight save opportunities.
Marte hit a first-pitch slider 406 feet to center field. Rookie Jason Martin scored on the blast after leading off the inning with a single and moving to second on a one-out ground out by Adam Frazier.
“Nobody hammers hanging breaking balls like Starling,” said Joe Musgrove, who allowed two runs in seven innings. “He crushed that ball.”
This is what Hurdle had to say about the game-winning blast:
When I asked Marte if he took out three weeks' worth of frustration on one swing, he smiled.
“I don’t know about that, but it felt good,” he said.
Marte’s confidence in his hitting had waned so much, he laid down a sacrifice bunt on his own in his previous at-bat. The Pirates had runners on first and second with none out, leading 3-2. While Marte advanced the runners, the Pirates failed to score.
“I wanted to do something to help and I thought in that situation the best thing I could do was move the runners up,” he said.
It turned out hitting the home run was much better.
“I know I’m a good player,” Marte said without a trace of arrogance. “I know I will hit better. To hit a home run to win the game, that gives me a good feeling.”
THE ESSENTIALS
• Boxscore
THE GOOD
Nick Kingham got the first save of his 10-year professional career by retiring the top of the order in the bottom of the 10th inning.
Kingham got Josh Harrison to ground out, then struck out Nicholas Castellanos before Miguel Cabrera lined out to center field to end it.
“That was really cool,” Kingham said with a grin. “The first one of anything is always exciting. I’ll remember that forever, especially with the guys at the plate. I was really pumped about it.”
With Hurdle electing to stay away from Felipe Vazquez after the closer threw 43 pitches in two innings Sunday against the Nationals at Washington, the options were limited.
Kela was called on in the ninth but couldn’t protect the lead, as he gave up a leadoff double by Christin Stewart and an RBI single to Jeimer Candelario. Kyle Crick was activated from the injured list before the game, but Hurdle preferred not to use him in a high-leverage situation after sitting out nearly two weeks. Nick Burdi had pitched in three of the previous four games.
Kingham had made just eight pro relief appearances prior to this season. He has allowed two runs in 5 1/3 innings over four games.
“I feel like I’m making the adjustment,” Kingham told me. “It’s still pitching. It’s still getting people out. It’s a whole different world than starting, but it’s not as tough of a transition as a lot of starters might think.”
THE BAD
Kela’s struggles continued as he was scored on in a fourth straight appearance while blowing the save. He converted 24 of 25 save opportunities last season with the Rangers before being traded to the Pirates in late July.
In eight games so far this season, Kela has allowed six runs, eight hits and three home runs. His ERA is 8.10.
Yet with the potential winning run in scoring position with none out after Candelario advanced on a wild pitch, Kela escaped. He struck out Gordon Beckham and induced Grayson Greiner to pop out before JaCoby Jones grounded out to the end the threat.
Hurdle said he still has confidence in Kela but did hint an outing in a lower-leverage situation might help.
“He’s still working,” Hurdle said. “He wants to put no marks up there. He wants a clean inning. Again, I tip my hat to him. He gives up a run but then he gives up no more. If he doesn’t do that, we’re in here talking about a different ballgame.”
Kela cost Musgrove a win. However, Musgrove said neither he nor anyone else in the clubhouse are down on the right-hander.
“We had a long talk the other day and he feels he’s letting his teammates down after they work so hard to get to that point with the lead,” Musgrove said. “He has to stay in a positive mindset, though, because he’s good enough to go out and have a 30-inning scoreless streak.”
THE OTHER SIDE
Harrison's rough start with the Tigers continued as he was 0-for-5.
The second baseman is hitting just .123/.203/.140 in 14 games. He signed a one-year, $2-million contract early in spring training after spending his entire eight-year career with the Pirates.
It marked the first time Harrison faced the Pirates in a regular-season game, though he did play against them in a spring training game last month.
"I've got guys over there that I played with, a lot of good friendships, but there's no added motivation or anything," Harrison said. "As far as I'm concerned, they're another opponent trying to win a series."
Jordy Mercer, who spent his first seven years with the Pirates before signing with the Tigers in December, is on the injured list with a strained right quad.
THE DATA
• Jung Ho Kung went 2-for-4 with a two-run home run after entering the game hitless in his previous 18 at-bats.
• Francisco Cervelli is hitless in his last 19 at-bats after going 0-for-4. He was also charged with his third passed ball in 13 games this season, allowing a run to score in the fourth inning.
• Musgrove’s streak of 18 2/3 innings without allowing an earned run to begin the season ended when he gave up two in the fourth.
• The Pirates are 5-4 on the road after winning consecutive games away from home for the first time this season. They beat the Nationals 4-3 in 10 innings on Sunday.
• The Pirates have won five straight games at Comerica Park, dating to 2017.
THE INJURIES
• Gregory Polanco, outfielder, is recovering from left shoulder surgery and is on a rehab assignment at Triple-A Indianapolis. He is 4-for-12 with four RBIs, two stolen bases, two walks and four strikeouts in three games. In four games with High-A Bradenton, he was 2-for-13 with one RBI, four walks and two strikeouts.
• Corey Dickerson, outfielder, has a strained right shoulder. He began playing catch Tuesday but the expectation is for him to be out until late April/early May.
• Elias Diaz, catcher, is recovering from a virus and is on a rehab assignment at Indianapolis. He is 11-for-25 with three doubles and four RBIs, one walk and three strikeouts in six games. In two games with Bradenton, Diaz was 2-for-5 with two doubles, two RBIs, one stolen base, two walks and one strikeout.
• Lonnie Chisenhall, outfielder, is out with a broken right hand and is taking batting practice without restriction.
• Kevin Newman, infielder, has a lacerated right ring finger and there is no timetable for his return.
• Jose Osuna, first baseman/outfielder, is in extended spring training and is participating in all baseball activities.
THE SCHEDULE
The two-game series concludes at 6:40 tomorrow night with Trevor Williams (1-0, 2.45) pitching against rookie right-hander Spencer Turnbull (0-2, 4.80). I will be on the scene here in downtown Detroit.
THE COVERAGE
Visit our team page for everything Pirates.
