Pittsburgh Pirates Wake Up Call – Sweeping Their Way into the Race

In our daily Wake-Up Call, we get you ready for the day with a complete look at all things Pittsburgh Pirates.

Complete the Sweep

Yesterday the Pittsburgh Pirates beat the Milwaukee Brewers 4-2. The Pirates completed their sweep of the Brewers with another come from behind victory. Gregory Polanco homered and Jameson Taillon pitched well enough to secure the victory. With the win, the Pirates find themselves at.500 for the first time since April 16th, when they were 6-6.

It’s been an uphill climb for the Pirates most of this season. They’ve frustrated their fans with inconsistent play and mixed results but no one can deny the team has a lot of heart. That may seem like a cliche but it really fits with this club. Who knows what will happen from now and the end of the season but whether the result is good or bad, it won’t be because this team quit.

The Pirates came into this series knowing it was pivotal. They did not disappoint and have put themselves in a position where they can and should be a bit aggressive at the trade deadline. I don’t think they should sell the farm for a piece but they shouldn’t be afraid to make a major move. The NL Central is completely winnable and there’s no reason not to go for it. The Wildcard won’t be there with how good the NL West has been. So, it’s either win the NL Central or get ready to watch playoff baseball for the second straight year.

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West Coast Swing

The Pirates are coming off a 6-1 home stand and are playing their best baseball of the season. They will have to continue if they want to keep pace with the Brewers and Cubs. The team is set to start a pivotal west coast swing. They open up tonight against the Colorado Rockies. The Rockies currently sit at 56-41, which is good enough for THIRD place in the crazy NL West. Coors Field is also a fairly tough place to play for any visiting team, so the Pirates will have their hands full.

There’s still enough time between now and the trade deadline that a lot can happen. The Pirates are still fighting to stay in contention. Being .500 right now is far from the goal. It’s good to see the team back there but they still have a lot of work to do. A good west coast trip against the Rockies and then the last place San Francisco Giants could go a long way into this team’s chances of winning the Central.

The most underrated aspect of the Pirates good stretch of play has been the energy inside PNC Park. For most of the season, PNC Park felt like a funeral parlor. The place had no energy and fan apathy seemed to be setting in. The Brewers series brought the park back to life. Yesterday’s game especially really felt like 2013-2015. The fans were engaged and into every pitch. That’s what baseball should be and kudos to the fans that brought the energy. Hopefully, when the team returns home on August 1st, they’re still in the race and the fans can #PackPNC.

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