Pirates' entire offense makes history with onslaught of walks, RBIs and runs

PITTSBURGH -- What a difference a few short days can make for a team’s fortune.

The Pirates didn't have a single win to show for 18 runs scored during its four-game sweep at the hands of St. Louis earlier this week. But the team is now 2-0 since flipping the calendar over to May after a blowout 17-7 victory Saturday afternoon against the NL-Central-leading Reds at PNC Park.

It was the second consecutive day that the Pirates had their way at the plate, with the entire lineup getting involved at one point or another in the team-wide 19-hit, 11-walk performance. Everybody in the Pirates’ starting lineup recorded at least one RBI -- for the first time since Sept. 16, 1975 vs. the Cubs -- by the end of the fourth.

It's also the second time this season that the Pirates have scored 15+ runs in a game. It's the fourth time in team history that the Pirates have done that twice before their 35th game of the season, but it's the first time that has happened since they did it four times before their 35th game in 1896.

“It was really impressive,” manager Don Kelly said. “I think it was something that we can learn from as we go through the season. When we've been really good offensively and had those big innings, it's usually been because we’ve been patient. Hunted the middle of the plate, the middle of the field and continued to trust the guy behind us.”

They struck for five first inning runs on five hits, including a pair of doubles, and a walk. Brandon Lowe, Ryan O’Hearn, Nick Gonzales, Marcell Ozuna and Konnor Griffin all drove in runs in the opening frame against Reds starter Rhett Lowder.

An inning later, following three consecutive walks, the Pirates chased Lowder from the game after just 1 1/3 innings. Gonzales, Ozuna, Spencer Horwitz and Griffin all drew walks, the fourth, fifth, sixth and seventh in a row surrendered by Cincinnati, driving in four more runs without the benefit of a hit. It was a display of historically bad control and solid plate discipline to keep the bat on its shoulders.

The seven walks allowed in the inning tied a big league record for most in an inning. The last time it happened? The Pirates were the team issuing the walks. On May 25, 1983: Jim Bibby and Jim Winn combined to do it in the bottom of the third inning at Atlanta. It was also the first time since April 27, 1994, that a team allowed at least five runs in an inning without giving up a hit. That's when the Mariners allowed that line to the Yankees in the third inning.

“[A] walk's as good as a hit,” O’Hearn said. “You get a couple guys on base, somebody gets a big hit and the offense is rolling. It's always fun for the dugout, gets rowdy, everybody's locked in. Fun to put a lot of points on the board. Hopefully, we just keep this mojo going.”

The Pirates struck for five more runs in the fourth inning, led off by Griffin’s second career triple and punctuated by a Horwitz single to drive in the team’s 15th run of the game.

The Pirates scored five-run innings in three of the first four frames. Pittsburgh also batted around three times in first four innings and the top eight batters had four plate appearances in the 4 innings. No. 1 and No. 2 hitters (Oneil Cruz and Lowe) each had five plate appearances in within the first five innings.

Griffin finished 4-for-5 with two RBIs, a home run shy of the cycle.

“Just trusting my preparation,” Griffin said. “Going out there and trying to be a tough out. It's the same mindset I've had all year. Things are just starting to settle down a little bit. Training’s been really good. Just trusting my skills and letting the athlete in me take over.

“I don't have to do too much. I am just a little piece of the puzzle. I’ve got a lot of really good hitters in front of me. My job is to get on base for those guys to drive me in. I'm going to try and do that as much as I can.”

Pittsburgh right-hander Carmen Mlodzinski got off to a shaky start in the first two innings, allowing three runs, but struck out six batters in a row soon after and posted back-to-back one-two-three innings to get himself through four. He received an ovation when exiting the game after 5 2/3 innings. He allowed five earned runs on eight hits but struck out a career-high 10 en route to his second victory of the season.

Three other relievers ate up the final 3 1/3 innings for Pittsburgh. Chris Devenski was ejected in the seventh inning after brushing back Reds rookie Sal Stewart with a first-pitch fastball. The Reds infielder took exception to the pitch and Devenski was ejected shortly later as the umpires deemed it intentional.

Aside from Griffin, six other Pirates chipped in with multi-hit efforts. All of its production at the plate came without the benefit of a home run.

“To go and have that kind of offensive day without a home run is the type of offense that we need to be,” Kelly said. “The home runs will happen. Proud of the guys for the way they continued to battle through. Everybody in the lineup contributed.”