Can you even believe it? The Pirates (53-49) just grabbed the first game of their doubleheader against the New York Yankees on Wednesday, July 22, pulling off a gritty 5-3 extra-innings win. The real shocker? It was struggling starter Mitch Keller who absolutely owned the mound, completely outdueling former Pittsburgh first overall draft pick, Gerrit Cole. Talk about a statement!
The Bullpen Rollercoaster That Had Everyone Screaming (Again)
Honestly, what’s new, right? Just when you thought we were cruising, the Buccos’ bullpen did what it often does and blew *another* lead. It felt like a gut punch, giving us all flashbacks to past meltdowns. But hold up, because reliever Gregory Soto, who was probably still reeling from that blown save on July 18, dug deep and actually bounced back to cement the win in extras. You gotta love that kind of mental toughness, even if the initial blown lead nearly gave us all heart attacks. That’s the kind of resilience you need to see, especially after the rough patches.
The Gonzos Went OFF And Made Cole Pay
While Keller was dealing on the mound, the bats absolutely showed up when it mattered. In the top of the fifth, with two outs, Nick Gonzales got things going with a crucial single. That set the table beautifully, because then Jacob Gonzalez stepped up to the plate and absolutely *punished* Cole’s hanging changeup, launching it for a massive two-run homer that put them up 2-0. That’s how you make a top-tier pitcher regret a mistake! The energy from those back-to-back plays was electric, showcasing exactly what this lineup can do when they’re locked in.
What a wild ride that game was. It was a huge extra-innings victory against a tough team, but man, the bullpen continues to be a storyline. You just know everyone is gonna be watching closely to see if Soto’s bounce-back sticks, and if Keller can keep channeling that ace energy. Every win like this is a fight, and that 53-49 record shows they’re scrapping for every single one.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Yahoo Sports.
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