Pirates’ Tyler Glasnow continues his progress in win over Nationals
Associated Press
Josh Bell is greeted by third base coach Joey Cora after hitting a two-run home run off Washington Nationals starting pitcher Tanner Roark at PNC Park last season. The art of batting from both sides of the plate would figure to be at a premium in this age of shifting defenses and advanced analytics. But in a sport of constant change, the amount remains remarkably steady.
Pirates starter Tyler Glasnow pitches against the Washington Nationals in the first inning of a baseball game, Thursday in Pittsburgh.
PITTSBURGH 鈥� There鈥檚 no denying Tyler Glasnow鈥檚 struggles this season. The Pirates鈥� rookie right-hander had a 7.98 ERA coming into Thursday鈥檚 game, and the bigger issue has been his inability to pitch deep into games.
But he found a way to resolve some of those in the Pirates 8-4, series-clinching win over the Washington Nationals at PNC Park.
In his last start in Arizona, he gave up seven runs in the third inning and was removed after 2 1/3 innings. In his seven starts before Thursday, he鈥檚 averaging just a hair more than four innings per start.
He had an even tougher test with the Washington Nationals, who have one of the best offenses in baseball. Wednesday night Gerrit Cole said the Nationals lineup could be intimidating 鈥� even for him.
鈥淚f you start staring at the batting averages and the names on the back of the jerseys, it can be a little overwhelming, but you just have to stick with the process and control what you can control,鈥� Cole said Wednesday.
That was the plan for Glasnow, as well, and it was the job of catcher Chris Stewart to keep him focused on what he could control.
鈥淕errit did a good job of showing what can be done when you execute pitches,鈥� Stewart said. 鈥淭hat鈥檚 what it鈥檚 all about, executing the pitches. I feel like we have a good enough game plan going in.鈥�
Stewart said Glasnow has the proper mindset and confidence going into his start, but once things start happening in the game and mechanical issues pop up, it鈥檚 difficult to keep that mindset.
鈥淗e goes in every game with confidence, and then I think it鈥檚 mechanical issues during the game that don鈥檛 allow him to do what he needs to do,鈥� Stewart said. 鈥淚 think the mental side is there.鈥�
Glasnow didn鈥檛 have a perfect outing. He gave up four runs, two of which were unearned because of his own throwing error. He also walked three in five innings. But he struck out six batters and held the Nationals鈥� top four hitters 鈥� including Bryce Harper 鈥� to an 0 for 11 afternoon.
鈥淚t鈥檚 a really good lineup 鈥� one of the better offensive teams in the league,鈥� Glasnow said. 鈥淚t was good to go out there and only give up three hits and compete the whole time. It was definitely a confidence booster.鈥�
KANG HOPES SUFFER SETBACK
Pirates third baseman Jung Ho Kang lost an appeal of his DUI conviction in South Korea early on Thursday. Kang and his legal team were hoping that a reduced sentence on appeal would make him more likely to be allowed into the United States.
The ruling makes it extremely unlikely that Kang will be able to play for the Pirates this season. Kang can still appeal the ruling that denied him access to a work visa, but without a change in status, the success of that appeal seems unlikely.
鈥淲e are aware of the ruling this morning in Jung Ho鈥檚 legal proceedings in South Korea, however, it is premature to comment on the impact, if any, it will have on his ability to secure permission to travel to the United States under a work visa,鈥� Pirates president Frank Coonelly said in a press release. 鈥淲e will continue to work with Jung Ho and his representatives as he works through that process.鈥�
The Pirates have mostly used David Freese to replace Kang at third base, and he鈥檚 done well, hitting .271 with three home runs and 10 RBIs.
POWER PARADE
Josh Bell hit a two-run home run to start the scoring the first inning. It was Bell鈥檚 second home run in as many games and ninth of the season. He leads all National League rookies in home runs and on-base percentage.
Bell hit cleanup for the first time in his career on Thursday, something that manager Clint Hurdle had been reluctant to put on the 24-year-old鈥檚 shoulders.
鈥淚 spoke with Josh [Wednesday] before the game about it,鈥� Hurdle said. 鈥淚 just like writing him in the lineup, letting him play and watching him.鈥�
Bell talked at length after his home run on Wednesday night about putting stuff out of his mind and just focusing on the next pitch. His lineup position was just one more thing to not worry about.
鈥淵eah, especially to be put in that position with a runner on in that first inning, I just tried to get my pitch and not change anything,鈥� Bell said Thursday. 鈥淚t definitely makes things easier getting that homer and adding to the confidence.鈥�
Hurdle said Bell hit cleanup because usual No. 4 hitter Gregory Polanco is on the disabled list and Freese had the day off, but Hurdle has also used other players in that spot. He didn鈥檛 say whether Bell would continue to get opportunities at the spot.