DENVER -- Bryan Reynolds is a man of few words. So, much of the time, he just lets his bat do the talking.
Although it was for naught in a 4-3 loss to the Rockies in the Pirates’ series opener at Coors Field on Friday night, Reynolds did what he’s been doing all month by delivering a big hit when the Bucs needed it most.
Only this time, it wasn’t in his usual role.
With one out and the tying run on second base in the eighth inning, Reynolds -- who had been a late scratch from the starting lineup due to left groin discomfort -- went to manager Don Kelly.
“He came up and said he was good to go,” Kelly said. “[We checked] with the trainer just to make sure because we don’t want to do something that’s going to set him back even more. And Bryan and the training staff felt comfortable with it, and he came up with a really big at-bat.”
On the first pitch he saw from reliever Jaden Hill, Reynolds grounded a single into center field to tie the game at 2. He was replaced at first base by pinch-runner Jake Mangum, who was thrown out trying to steal second. But after Spencer Horwitz was hit by a pitch, Nick Gonzales came through with a go-ahead triple.
The Bucs’ lead was short-lived. In the bottom of the eighth, after the first two Rockies batters were retired, the Pittsburgh relief corps’ struggles continued, as reliever Mason Montgomery gave up back-to-back singles by Tyler Freeman and Cole Carrigg and then a go-ahead two-run double by pinch-hitter Braxton Fulford.
In the ninth, despite loading the bases with nobody out, the Pirates failed to score when pinch-hitter Tyler Callihan struck out and Jared Triolo grounded into a game-ending double play.
It just goes to show you: The plot can bestow upon you a dramatic, feel-good moment, but it never guarantees a happy ending.
For his part, Reynolds said he takes pride in being out on the field every day. It shows -- he has appeared in all 76 games the Pirates have played this season.
“Yeah, that's a big thing,” Reynolds said. “I want to be out there every game. Sometimes you can't, but sometimes you can just have a little pinch-hit that could help the team, so it worked out that way. … I would have loved to be in [the starting lineup]. I was in there ‘til right up to the game, but it happens. But, I got in there, still."
He got in there, and for a brief moment, it looked like Pittsburgh was on its way to its third straight victory after dropping eight of its previous 10 games.
Alas, there are no sure things in baseball, no matter how nice the plot twist feels. Especially in the thin air of Denver and with the cavernous outfield at Coors.
Still, there were silver linings for the Bucs, even if they weren’t all that bright.
Aside from Reynolds’ eighth-inning heroics, starter Bubba Chandler produced his third career quality start in his first appearance at Coors Field. The right-hander went six innings, giving up two runs on six hits, walking two and striking out one.
With just one other strikeout by Pirates pitchers in the game, it snapped a streak of 23 consecutive games in which Pittsburgh hurlers struck out at least seven batters, the club’s longest such streak in the Modern Era (since 1900).
The fact that Chandler had relative success despite only having one strikeout in a venue like Coors, where limiting balls in play is usually a major focus, demonstrated growth, but also -- by his own admission -- a lack of execution with two strikes.
“I think it was just, the thought was to keep the ball on the ground,” Chandler said. “I think we did a good job of that. The execution getting to two strikes was probably the best I've ever been in pro ball, but the execution with two strikes wasn't as good as it could have been.”
It wasn’t as good as it could’ve been. That was also true of Friday night’s game overall.
“Really tough when you battle back,” Kelly said. “I didn’t think our at-bats were very good at the beginning. … In the ninth, to get the bases loaded, we’ve gotta find a way to come through in that situation and at least get one, or more at times.”