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First-Place Pirates, Yohan Ramirez Showing Some Grit
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- First-Place Pirates, Yohan Ramirez Showing Some Grit
(© Patrick Gorski-Imagn Images)
Given Don Kelly 's Pittsburgh roots, it's no surprise he wantshis Pirates to play that way.
Gritty. Determined. Blue collar. In short, just as you'dexpect from a Western Pennsylvania team.
The Pirates have indeed shown grit while getting off to a 9-5start that has them in first place in the National League Central. Pittsburgh finished last in the division last season with a 71-91 record.
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Their early-season tenacity shows in a 4-0 mark in one-rungames, most recently a 4-3 win over the Cubs in 11 innings Saturday at Wrigley Field. Withthat win, the Pirates now try to sweep the series Sunday, sending rookieright-hander Bubba Chandler (0-1, 3.12) against Jameson Taillon (0-1, 2.53).
Pittsburgh reliever Yohan Ramirez escaped bases-loaded jams inthe 10th and 11th innings, helping secure the team's eighth win in their last10 games.
Tied 3-3 in the 10th, with Cubs on first and second and twoouts, Ramirez struck out Seiya Suzuki .
Brandon Lowe 's two-out RBI infield single in the 11th put thePirates ahead 4-3, but Ramirez brought trouble in the bottom half.
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Ramirez's error on leadoff hitter Nico Hoerner 's grounder putCubs on second and third. Then, Ramirez got Matt Shaw to line out and AlexBregman to pop out. Pittsburgh intentionally walked Ian Happ to load the basesfor Suzuki.
Ramirez fell behind 3-0 in the count before inducing Suzuki tohit a game-ending foul out.
"It was really emotional out there," Ramirez toldreporters after the game via translator Stephen Morales. "It felt reallygood, just as a team, to be able to come through in that situation. And it feltlike a whole team effort, and happiness as well. From the players, coachingstaff, through the clubhouse guys, everybody's sharing the same goal. And itfelt really good."
This was the kind of game the Pirates often lost in recentyears. They blew a 3-0 seventh-inning lead. Yet, showing new resolve, Pittsburgh found a way to win. The Pirates are proving their manager right after Kellyspent all spring training saying his team was ready to win this year.
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"That's a gutsy blue-collar win," Kelly said."Coming into Chicago in that environment, to have the situation there at theend like we did, and to find a way to score a run. We'll take a win any way wecan get it."
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