PITTSBURGH — The lasting image from the Pirates’ 6-3 victory over the Chicago White Sox at PNC Park on Tuesday might well be Gregory Polanco jumping and cheering in front of the home dugout, the much maligned outfielder working his way from one end to the other in celebration.
They’re fortunate it was not one that occurred a short while before, with White Sox catcher Yasmani Grandal glancing over his shoulder to acknowledge a sizable contingent of Chicago fans cheering him on a trip around the bases following a three-run homer.
The decisive seventh inning was as exciting as it was different. Chicago used one, big swing. Pittsburgh countered with a death-by-a-thousand-cuts strategy. Whatever the case, it worked to uphold a strong start from Tyler Anderson, one in which the only blemish was Grandal’s homer.
It also netted local boy David Bednar his first MLB win.
The win could help the Pirates (26-45) continue some momentum they built over the weekend by taking two of three from Cleveland, while the White Sox — who had the best record in MLB around this time a week ago — have suddenly dropped a season-high five in a row.
Especially encouraging for Pittsburgh in this one was the production by the bottom of the order. Polanco, Phillip Evans, Kevin Newman and Erik Gonzalez combined to go 6 for 13, while the Gonzalez single pushed the Pirates in front for good.
Trailing by one following a three-run homer from Grandal, the Pirates went to work in the bottom of the seventh inning, opening the inning with four consecutive single that netted three runs.
The first came on a terrific bunt from Newman, which White Sox third baseman Yoan Moncada fielded and threw wildly to first, allowing Polanco to score.
Next came a two-run, pinch-hit single from Gonzalez, the utility infielder pulling an elevated slider through the left side to match his RBI total from the previous 18 games (14 starts) combined.
Pittsburgh wasn’t done, either. Adam Frazier had a terrific approach and drove a ball deep to center, moving Gonzalez to third. Bryan Reynolds pushed the Pirates in front, 6-3, with a hard-hit single (107.2 mph) up the middle.
Before the Pirates put together their three-run seventh, it looked like another decision from manager Derek Shelton involving his starting pitcher might define this game.
Anderson was absolutely tremendous for the Pirates and was cruising through 6 2/3 innings — the same number as JT Brubaker on Sunday.
Anderson had neither allowed a run, nor a walk and was at 81 pitches when Grandal pinch-hit for catcher Zack Collins with two on and two out in the top of the seventh.
Shelton removed Brubaker with one on and two out — following an out — with the righty at 76 pitches, but he chose to stick with Anderson against the White Sox. It didn’t work.
Grandal sat on a first-pitch sinker and drove it into the grassy area in center field for a three-run shot that gave the White Sox a 3-2 lead.
As much success as Frazier has had at the plate, he really hasn’t put the ball over the fence all that frequently. Just two times through 69 games.
That changed when Frazier got a misplaced change-up from White Sox starter Lucas Giolito in the third inning Tuesday. On the 10th pitch of his at-bat, Frazier got a full-count change-up that Giolito left up in the zone and drove it into the right-field seats.
It continued the success Frazier has had against off-speed pitches this season; he came into Tuesday’s game hitting .486 and slugging .595 against them this season. Meanwhile, for Giolito, it continued a different kind of trend.
Giolito, who twirled a no-hitter against the Pirats last season, has now allowed 18 home runs this season, second-most in MLB. Only Kyle Hendricks (19) of the Cubs has coughed up more.
It was a 1-0 game until the Pirates tacked on another run in the sixth. Frazier led off with a walk, went to second on Ke’Bryan Hayes’ grounder to second and scored when Reynolds shot a single into center field.
Much like Frazier’s home run, it was a terrific piece of hitting from Reynolds, who got a first-pitch change-up on the outside part of the plate and drove it back up the middle — exactly what you should do in that situation. But equally as impressive was Frazier’s role.
Not only did he work a walk, which brought to 25 his total of pitches seen through three at-bats Tuesday, but he smartly slide just a little wide, enough to stay away from Collins.
Anderson buzzed through the first two innings on just 20 pitches, striking out shortstop Tim Anderson on a four-seam fastball and first baseman Jose Abreu on a cutter, before encountered a small bit of trouble in the third.
Giolito reached on a two-out single. Anderson followed with one of his own before Goodwin flew out to center to end the threat.
The left-handed put it back into cruise control after that and put together a stretch of 11 straight retired before Abreu singled with one out in the seventh inning. Anderson got left fielder Andrew Vaughn to pop out to shortstop, but right fielder Leury Garcia singled to extend the inning and give Grandal a chance.
