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Hurdle’s call for small ball breaks stall
- Updated: August 6, 2016
PITTSBURGH — The Pirates landed in Pittsburgh at 2:24 a.m. ET on Friday morning, bruised and beaten five times during a six-game road trip through Milwaukee and Atlanta. Their offense was scuffling. They needed a spark. They got a squeeze.
Jordy Mercer’s fifth-inning squeeze bunt plated John Jaso and gave the Pirates a one-run lead in their eventual 3-2, walk-off win over the Reds on Friday night at PNC Park.
“It’s one of the most exciting plays in baseball,” Mercer said. “When you have an exciting play that goes your way, it can definitely boost the team.”
With the Pirates trailing by a run, David Freese led off the fifth with a walk. Jaso hit a double to center, at least after a replay review overturned what had been an out and placed runners on second and third.
Francisco Cervelli tied the game with a sacrifice fly to right field. Up came Mercer, one of many Pittsburgh hitters who struggled through disappointing series losses to the Brewers and Braves.
The Pirates’ pitching has been their …
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