If you're going to put up 13 runs and 19 hits, like the Pirates did Friday against the White Sox in their 13-9 win at PNC Park's home opener, you're going to need some production out of the bottom third of your lineup.
But 10 hits, including at least three from everyone? That's once-a-century production.
No. 7 hitter Connor Joe led the way with four hits, including three doubles, while Ji Hwan Bae and Jason Delay each had three singles as well. All three would pick up an RBI and score two runs.
But for a specific moment, let's go with Joe's final hit of the afternoon:
Pirates outfielder Connor Joe has 4 hits and 3 doubles! Pirates leads 13-7 pic.twitter.com/y5oVJnVTzU
— Talkin’ Baseball (@TalkinBaseball_) April 7, 2023
Just how rare is it to get this level of production out of the bottom of the order? Well, per the Elias Sports Bureau, the last time the Pirates' 7, 8 and 9 hitters each had at least three hits was Aug. 12, 1921 when Charlie Grim, Tonny Brottem and Wilbur Cooper accomplished the feat.
"I think the good thing is you move the ball forward, good things can happen, and we did a really good job of moving the ball forward," Derek Shelton said.
Joe is the wildcard in this setup. He had been used more against lefties in the earlier portion of the season, but Shelton gave him the nod against Lucas Giolito because the White Sox ace has reverse splits. It worked.
And yet, with Andrew McCutchen's return and Bryan Reynolds' six RBI game, this hardly registers as the big story of the day.
