First pitch: The secrets to success for these 3 surprising MLB teams
By Kevin Henry
MLB secret to success: Pittsburgh Pirates
There are plenty of Pirates statistics you can point to early on as a barometer for why the skull and crossbones is flying more often early this season than in years past. All-Star outfielder Bryan Reynolds, however, told me recently that he is seeing things in the Pittsburgh clubhouse and on the field this season more than he has in his previous four seasons in the Steel City.
“Gritty and finding ways to win,” Reynolds told me when I asked him about this Pirates team after a 14-3 demolition of the Colorado Rockies in Denver. “Building off each other and putting together quality pitching and quality at-bats. We’re finding ways to score runs.”
Pittsburgh certainly did just that in its three-game series against the Rockies, outscoring the home team 33-9 to kick off a seven-game winning streak that they will carry into Tuesday’s home game against the Los Angeles Dodgers. And the Pirates are winning not only with blowouts, but in the close games as well. Heading into Sunday, Pittsburgh was 5-1 this season in one-run contests, a marked improvement (though early) over last season’s 21-27 record in one-run games.
“It feels good. We’re playing good baseball,” said Reynolds, a player the Pirates are reportedly trying to extend. “We’re finding ways to win close games, which is what we haven’t done in the past. I think that’s the mark of a good team is winning close games.”