Fundamental Wolters shows flair for dramatic

PITTSBURGH — Catcher Tony Wolters’ artful defense gave the Rockies a chance to win Saturday. So he didn’t mind helping deliver a 5-1 win over the Pirates with an inelegant hit in the top of the ninth.

Wolters prevented a run in the fourth with a knee-drop that blocked Jung Ho Kang from the plate — legally, as replay ruled. He ended the eighth, when he retrieved the ball after Carlos Estevez’s fastball squirted from his mitt and threw out Matt Joyce trying to advance.

Wolters, 23, a rookie who had not played above Double-A before this year, has stimulated the analytics community with his pitch-framing numbers. But plays like those Saturday are living, breathing celebrations of catching acumen.

Wolters hasn’t been nearly as successful offensively, as his .192 average indicates. But with the score tied and two on in the ninth, his bouncer hit the first-base bag to drive in one run. Another run scored when Pirates first baseman John Jaso, who nearly barehanded the carom, could not handle the rebound for what was ruled an error.

“He’s not afraid of the big moment,” Rockies manager Walt Weiss said. “He’s come up with some big hits and he’s come …

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