Mercer, Harrison spice up Pirates’ defense

PITTSBURGH — Gerrit Cole bounced around the diamond as he praised the Pirates defense Friday night. John Jaso at first. Andrew McCutchen in center. Starling Marte in left. David Freese at third. And, of course…

“The two boys up the middle,” Cole continued. “Salt and Pepper, they were great.”

Wait, Jordy Mercer and Josh Harrison? Salt and Pepper?

“I just know they’re Salt and Pepper,” Cole said, smiling.

Sure enough, the Pirates’ new middle-infield duo came up with the nickname themselves during Spring Training. Observant fans might already have caught on, perhaps even subconsciously during games at PNC Park.

After each double play the two of them turn at home, the Pirates’ public-address system rings out with the beat from Salt-n-Pepa’s “Push It,” fulfilling a request made this spring by Mercer and Harrison.

“We needed to come up with some kind of name,” Mercer said. “We started …

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