Ke’Bryan Hayes hits grand slam as Pirates homer 4 times to beat Braves for 1st win
BRADENTON, Fla. — The Pittsburgh Pirates didn’t have any success against Atlanta left-hander Chris Sale through the first two innings, so they welcomed a pitching change.
When the Braves turned to 20-year-old righty Owen Murphy, a 2022 first-round pick, the Pirates took advantage in the third inning. Jack Suwinski doubled, Liover Peguero singled and Oneil Cruz drew a walk to load the bases. Ke’Bryan Hayes delivered the finishing touch.
Hayes hammered a 2-2 curveball over the center-field fence for a game-tying grand slam in the third inning of a 13-4 win over the Braves on Tuesday at LECOM Park, the Pirates’ first victory of spring training.
“I sure hope there’s some in there for the regular season,” said Hayes, who never has hit an in-season slam. “He threw a hanging, slow curveball and I was still in a good spot where I could put a good swing on it. Whenever there’s guys on, being in the middle of the lineup, I’ve got to find a way to try to get ’em in.”
The Braves acquired Sale from the Boston Red Sox in late December, and the seven-time All-Star looked sharp in striking out four without a hit in two scoreless innings. Hayes was quick to credit gusty Gulf winds blowing out of the ballpark for an extra boost, as the Pirates hit four homers measured at 415 feet or longer.
Bryan Reynolds joined the home run parade, crushing a two-run shot off lefty Ben Bowden in the fifth that sailed 434 feet to center at an exit velocity of 109 mph for his first hit of spring training.
“Finally put a good ball on the barrel (to) get the first hit of spring and get it rolling,” said Reynolds, who laughed at the Statcast numbers. “I think it was a little light. If that’s what the computer says, we’ll accept it.”
Pirates manager Derek Shelton noted that Cruz drew a pair of walks, making it a good day for the top three hitters in the Pirates lineup.
“So the whole combination of those guys doing the things that they need to do to help us win is important,” Shelton said.
Reynolds also prevented a run in the first inning with a one-hop throw to catcher Yasmani Grandal to prevent David Fletcher from scoring on a day that Pirates lefty Marco Gonzales needed some help.
Acquired from Atlanta via Seattle in a pair of December trades, Gonzales was pitching in a game for the first time since undergoing surgery in May to repair nerve inflammation in his left forearm.
“Definitely eager and ready to get the first one under my belt, especially with the amount of time that I feel like I’m missing game action since last May, actually against Pittsburgh in Seattle,” Gonzales said. “So it felt really good to get out there and compete.”
Gonzales allowed three runs on six hits and one walk in 1 2/3 innings in his Pirates debut. The first three batters he faced got hits, with Sean Murphy driving in J.P. Martinez with a single to center. In the second, the Braves added a pair of two-out runs, after Gonzales walked Ryan Casteel, hit Martinez with a pitch and gave up back-to-back singles to Fletcher and Murphy before exiting.
“Just getting him out there and knocking the rust off, he threw a couple good fastballs in that jammed right-handed hitters and ended up falling for flares,” Pirates manager Derek Shelton said. “Just to get him back on the mound and get him in the flow, get him a sweat, it’s important because, regardless of how long you’ve played, you need to get him back on the mound with game competition.”
The Braves tacked on another run off righty Luis Ortiz in the third. Eli White reached on a throwing error by Cruz, stole second base, advanced to third on a Phillip Evans groundout and scored on a Luke Williams single for a 4-0 lead.
Then Hayes homered in the bottom of the third to tie it, and Reynolds followed in the fifth to give the Pirates a two-run lead. A seven-run sixth was highlighted by homers from a pair of minor-leaguers. Abrahan Gutierrez sent a two-run homer out at a 108.4-mph exit velocity, and Jackson Glenn added a 415-foot shot to center.
Note: Right-hander Quinn Priester is expected to start for the Pirates against lefty Tarik Skubal and the Detroit Tigers on Wednesday at LECOM Park.
