Derek Shelton will almost always defer to the media to start his postgame availabilities. But as he took to the podium Thursday, he wanted the first word.
"Really proud of our group," he started. "Bunch of young players against that team in that series and had the opportunity to win all four games, even going back to the Milwaukee story, these young guys are really stepping up to the occasion and it's fun to watch. Very cool because that's a grind to get through that club right there."
Thursday afternoon was a sign of progress at PNC Park. A youth movement is going to have growing pains, like they saw the night before. It will also have moments of promise, like eliminating a four-run deficit to beat the best team in the National League. That's what the Pirates pulled off Thursday in their 7-5 win over the Braves.
The win secured a series split with the Braves, though it could have theoretically been a series win or sweep in the Pirates' favor. Rookie mistakes got in the way Wednesday and Tuesday was a rare blown save by David Bednar.
But to hang with a National League front runner shouldn't be glossed over.
"That series right there's playoff-atmosphere baseball," Ke'Bryan Hayes said. "There's a lot of good things that are happening. I feel like each and every week, I feel like we're that close."
Hayes got the comeback started with a bases loaded base hit in the third inning, and then Bryan Reynolds followed with a Matrix slide into home plate on a short sacrifice fly to left field:
— DK Pittsburgh Sports (@DKPSvideos) August 10, 2023
"Yeah, Endy [Rodríguez] had the swim slide," Reynolds said, referring to a dive back to the bag the rookie catcher had Monday. "Now I have a little slide at home. Was safe."
Liover Peguero would add a couple RBI hits to give the Pirates' the lead, newcomer Thomas Hatch went four scoreless innings in relief of Bailey Falter and the Pirates would go on to win one of their more well-rounded ball games of the season.
And perhaps just as important is it was again the rookies leading the way, along with the two players the team has inked to long-term contracts. It's now four straight series that the Pirates have won or split, and since the promotion of Rodríguez, Peguero and Quinn Priester, they are 11-11, and against quality clubs (the defending National League champs, the favorites to take the pennant this year in the Braves and the Central-leading Brewers, for starters).
You know, the players that have been talked about for years? They aren't just names for a later date. They are contributing now.
"They’re stepping up and getting better every day," Reynolds said. "... That’s big for us. We’re gonna really rely on them. They’re doing well right now."
"I mean, they're hungry, as you can see," Hayes said.
Hunger is one thing. Shelton sees even more.
"The biggest thing is they're not scared," Shelton said. "We were in deficit games... On a day game when you're getting beat, it's easy to not continue to grind through your at bats and that's why I'm so proud of them."
There's still a long way to go. Playing .500 ball the rest of the way would put the Pirates at 75-76 wins on the season. That would be about half of the win improvement they need to make to go from the 100-loss teams of 2021 and 2022 to a playoff contender.
But with extended stretches against teams like these, it's easier to see the other side of the rebuild.
"I think some of it is a lot of these guys came up together and they're comfortable around each other which is really important when you get to the big leagues," Shelton said. "There's so much anxiety of being in the big leagues and what it is and trying to stay here, so I think the fact they've come up together is really important. I think they like each other. They enjoy being around each other and then the second part of that is the veteran guys we have here have embraced them and know that they're part of what we're doing, not only this year but moving forward."
JUSTIN BERL / GETTY
Matt Olson tosses his bat after being called out on strikes for the final out of the game Thursday at PNC Park.
THE ESSENTIALS
• Boxscore
• Live file
• Team feed
• Standings
• Statistics
• Schedule
• Scoreboard
THE HIGHLIGHTS
THE INJURIES
• 10-day injured list: 2B Ji Hwan Bae (ankle)
• 15-day injured list: RHP Dauri Moreta (lower back)
• 60-day injured list: SS Oneil Cruz (ankle), RHP JT Brubaker (elbow), LHP Jarlin Garcia (elbow), RHP Max Kranick (elbow), INF Tucupita Marcano (knee), RHP Vince Velasquez (elbow)
THE LINEUPS
Shelton's card:
1. Josh Palacios, LF
2. Bryan Reynolds, DH
3. Ke'Bryan Hayes, 3B
4. Alfonso Rivas, 1B
5. Henry Davis, RF
6. Jack Suwinski, CF
7. Liover Peguero, SS
8. Jared Triolo, 2B
9. Jason Delay, C
And for Brian Snitker's Braves:
1. Ronald Acuña Jr., RF
2. Ozzie Albies, 2B
3. Austin Riley, 3B
4. Matt Olson, 1B
5. Sean Murphy, C
6. Marcell Ozuna, DH
7. Orlando Arcia, SS
8. Kevin Pillar, LF
9. Michael Harris II, CF
THE SCHEDULE
The Reds are coming to town this weekend to start a three-game series. Johan Oviedo (6-11, 4.18) will take the ball in game one against lefty Andrew Abbott (6-3, 2.93). First pitch is set for 7:05 p.m. I'll have you covered.
THE MULTIMEDIA
THE CONTENT
Visit our team feed for all the latest around the clock and our team page for everything else.
