PITTSBURGH -- The Pirates started to feel the momentum turn in a positive direction last weekend in Miami,
Here are four takeaways from the Pirates’ third straight victory.\n\n**1) They kept it simple**\n\nIn the fourth inning, the Pirates loaded the bases with nobody out against starter Chris Paddack and came up empty when
They made up for it in the eighth inning. With the bases loaded again and one out against San Diego setup man Craig Stammen,
“That’s exactly what I was trying to do. In the past this year, I’ve tried to get too big instead of making the pitcher come to me,” Frazier said. “He’s the one in the tough spot, so just shorten up, get back in there and make him come to me. It felt pretty good.”
**2) They’re good in a pinch**\n\nOn Friday night, [Jose Osuna](https://www.mlb.com/player/jose-osuna-591741 \"undefined\") recorded the go-ahead hit in an unusual role: starting third baseman. He got back to normal on Saturday, coming off the bench as a pinch-hitter with
Osuna saw exactly one pitch, a 92.5-mph fastball from Paddack, and he drove it back at 102 mph over the fence in right-center field to put the Bucs ahead, 2-1. It was Osuna’s third pinch-hit homer of the season and the fifth of his career.\n\n“He’s done a nice job for us, and it’s a hard job to do,” Pirates manager Clint Hurdle said.\n\nAs a team, Pittsburgh’s pinch-hitters rank first in the NL in batting average (.321), on-base percentage (.387), slugging percentage (.575) and RBIs (28).
**3) The starters trusted their stuff**\n\nGetting healthy will help the Pirates’ rotation, as
The only blemish on Archer’s line was a home run. Manny Machado launched a changeup 432 feet out to left field to lead off the fourth inning, the second straight day he hit a solo shot to start that frame. Archer has allowed 18 home runs this season, one shy of his 2018 total, and he’s given up at least one home run in each of his last 10 starts.
\n\nA classic clubhouse exchange...
— Adam Berry (@adamdberry) June 23, 2019
Chris Archer: “Before the game, my mom said, ‘Just don’t throw a pitch down the middle to Manny Machado.’”
Robby Incmikoski: “How’d that go?”
Archer: “I guess I should have listened to her.”
Otherwise, Archer minimized the damage the Padres did against him. He allowed only one other hit and walked three batters, one of them intentionally, while striking out five. He could have been more efficient, as he needed 85 pitches to complete five innings, but he likely would have gotten a chance to get through the sixth had the scoring opportunity that turned into Osuna’s pinch-hit homer not presented itself.
Archer ditched his two-seam fastball on Saturday and leaned on his four-seamer and slider while mixing in a handful of changeups. He said he learned a lot from watching Musgrove and from talking to him in the clubhouse dining room before the game. That helped the two starters hold a hot-hitting Padres lineup to a combined two runs on seven hits in 12 innings to start the series.
“Just trusting our stuff, being who we are, not deviating from what makes us successful,” Archer said.\n\n**4) Marte showed his ‘special’ speed**\n\nFrazier came through with the big hit in the eighth, but