CHICAGO – As Jared Triolo leaped into the air, so did the rest of the Pirates organization. The former Gold Glover came on as a defensive replacement in the late innings to hold a narrow lead. With the bases loaded in the eighth inning, Triolo made a jumping catch, then tagged third to convert the double play and end the inning.
Pitcher Luke Weaver stood with his hands on his head. Catcher Rafael Flores Jr. pumped his fist in excitement. Shortstop Konnor Griffin smiled with joy.
And Pittsburgh found another way to survive.
“That was a huge play. That was - I think it was definitely fair if he doesn't catch it, and that's multiple runs,” Pirates manager Don Kelly said. “Probably play of the game right there.”
The Pirates defeated the White Sox, 4-2, Wednesday for their fifth consecutive series win, the first time they’ve achieved the feat since August 2015. Pittsburgh is 8-2 in its last 10 games, and looks for its first series sweep of the second half on Thursday.
“[It’s] late in the year, but we're still in it,” Triolo said. “I think everybody has a role, and yeah, just trying to do it well. It's been fun. Obviously, winning series is good, and I hear we need to go for a sweep tomorrow. So that's kind of the plan.”
Esmerlyn Valdez broke the ice in the fifth inning with an opposite-field shot to right field, taking a 1-0 lead with the rookie’s 17th homer of the year. Pittsburgh’s pitching, amid a bullpen game, then continued its superb outing.
Lake Bachar and Brandon Eisert took on the first four innings with eight strikeouts and just two hits allowed. Once Valdez took the lead, Carmen Mlodzinski entered and pitched just one inning on two days' rest as he transitions back into more frequent usage out of the bullpen.
Between the Pirates' trio of pitchers and Gregory Soto to start the sixth, they retired 13 straight batters before Soto hit a batter. He then allowed a single but thwarted the threat against White Sox slugger Colson Montgomery, striking him out to preserve the narrow lead.
Pittsburgh padded its advantage in the top of the seventh with some small ball. Spencer Horwitz put down a bunt for a base hit and Rafael Flores drove home a run with a single. Konnor Griffin then scored two more with another single up the middle, creating a four-run lead with nine outs to go. The rookie trio of Valdez, Griffin and Flores Jr. drove in all four runs.
“For them to be able to take a deep breath, calm themselves a little bit, and when it was getting loud and lights were a little bright, our young guys were really shining,” veteran Brandon Lowe said.
Those nine outs were anything but easy. The White Sox loaded the bases both times with one out. Yohan Ramírez bailed out Camilo Doval by turning a 5-4-3 double play to end the threat, as the benches cleared soon after.
The Pirates survived the eighth with Luke Weaver loading the bases and then Triolo catching a 100 mph line drive and tagging third for the out. Triolo knows his role as a defender to protect the leads, waiting for his number to be called and delivering when it mattered most.
Pittsburgh isn’t oblivious to what is at stake. It remains five games back of the final NL Wild Card spot with 16 games to go. The Pirates see the Padres and Diamondbacks ahead of them, and understand the tall task ahead. If they keep stacking wins, who knows what could happen.
“Focus on what we can control,” Griffin said. “Nothing matters unless we win games here.”