The Pirates’ are off to a 3-1 start on their seven-game road trip, and they won yesterday behind an unexpected effort by a rookie pitcher making his Major League debut.
Joe Block has the story.
Manager Derek Shelton was impressed with how Kranick worked his way through heavy rains and trouble with his breaking ball early in the game.
Shelton says the incredible play by third baseman Ke’Bryan Hayes fielding a ball and ranging far into foul territory to throw out Yaider Molina rivals the play at second base a couple of weeks ago by Adam Frazier, which he said at the time may have been the best play he’d ever seen at second.
Kranick says he was focused from the first pitch of his MLB debut.
The Bucs’ Ben Gamel says it was a sight to see Kranick pitching as he watched from his position in left field.
Perhaps the best perspective on Kranick’s performance came from St. Louis outfielder Lars Nootbaar, who faced Kranick nine days ago, when both were playing in the minors.
Today’s game has been moved to a 5:10 first pitch. 4:45 airtime on WCCS with the Pirates sending former Rockies lefty Tyler Anderson (3-7, 4.82 ERA) to the mound to face Colorado’s Kyle Freeland (0-2, 7.76 ERA.
Pirates GM Ben Cherington said before the game yesterday that the team will be using a six-man rotation heading into the All-Star break in two weeks, so he was anxious to see how Kranick pitched to see if he could be part of it. Based on what he did yesterday, Kranick fits, at least for now.
MLB yesterday announced the Phase One finalists for the 2021 All-Star game and Adam Frazier is a finalist at second base for the National League. Toronto’s Vladimir Guerrero Junior was the top-overall vote getter, with Atlanta’s Ronald Acuna Junior and Kansas City’s Salvador Perez rounding out the top three.
Phase Two begins today and runs through Thursday. Frazier is in second place at second base, behind Atlanta’s Ozzie Albies and ahead of the Dodgers’ Gavin Lux. The All-Star starters will be announced on Thursday night, with the rest of the teams named on Sunday.
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