PITTSBURGH — The offense that carried the Pirates for most of the season had gone quiet in recent weeks, especially to start August.
Through their first 11 games to begin the month, the Pirates scored only 32 runs. But a 13-run outburst in Miami on Thursday followed by eight more runs in a win over the Red Sox on Friday night has the Pirates back on track, at least for the time being.
“The guys are doing their job and working hard to get back to it,” Esmerlyn Valdez said through coach/interpreter Stephen Morales.
Friday’s performance at PNC Park was particularly encouraging. Pittsburgh has had well-documented struggles against left-handed starters this season, and Boston had Jake Bennett on the mound to begin the game.
The Pirates tagged the left-hander for four runs in four innings. Rafael Flores Jr. hit a second-inning home run and added another on a base hit in the fourth. In between Flores’ two swings was an Esmerlyn Valdez two-run double to left field.
With four runs on five hits, the Pirates chased Bennett after 82 pitches through four.
“Overall, I thought our approach tonight was much better against a left-hander,” said manager Don Kelly. “I think it showed with the amount of runs we were able to score.”
Flores has been a catalyst for the Pirates the last two games. He homered in three straight at-bats — the eighth and ninth innings of the win in Miami and again in his first trip to the plate on Friday. The 25-year-old has also driven in eight runs over the last two games.
“I think I’m just trying to make the most of the opportunity,” said Flores. “Certain situations, I’m just trying to capitalize”
Once Bennett left the game, the Pirates continued to add on. Brandon Lowe had the big swing in the fifth inning with a three-run home run off another lefty, Jovani Morán. Pittsburgh was gifted a run two innings later when Bryan Reynolds scored from first on a Caleb Durbin throwing error across the diamond.
“Brandon Lowe going deep off a lefty was a huge hit there with two outs and guys in scoring position.” said Kelly. “Something that we’ve talked a lot about since we’ve gone through the year is that big base hit that we’re looking for.”
Another reason the offense is returning to form is because the July Rookie of the Month is starting to get back on track. Valdez had been mired in a prolonged slump that included a stretch in which he was hitless in 19 at-bats.
But the 22-year-old has hits in five of his last six contests and extended his hitting streak to four games with his two-run two-bagger in Friday’s win.
“It started coming in Miami,” Kelly said of Valdez. “To see him have the at-bats he had in Miami, then to get the big base hit today, big double was huge.”
If the Pirates have any hope left, they’ll need the offense to start clicking again. Based off the last two games, a turnaround could be commencing.
“Right now, as a team, we’re playing to win every game because we know every game from now on matters,” said Valdez.
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