CINCINNATI – The Pittsburgh Pirates were last seen pulling off back-to-back extra-inning walk-off wins against the St. Louis Cardinals.
Andrew McCutchen hit a two-run walk-off homer in the 14th inning July 12. Gregory Polanco added a walk-off single as part of a three-run 10th inning on Sunday Night Baseball. That pulled the Pirates (53-35) within 2.5 games of the National League Central Division leaders at the All-Star break.
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How did all that feel?
McCutchen said it made the flight to Cincinnati easier. Gerrit Cole said there's no need to over-evaluate one three-game series. Then A.J. Burnett said it best.
“It's that way every time we play those guys,” Burnett said. “It's action-packed, on the field. We took it as another game. You have to. You can't go into a series thinking, ‘This is gonna make or break us.’"
The tempered reaction proves Pittsburgh isn't looking for that one series or walk-off as a catalyst for the second half. McCutchen also said it’s not about making that one big trade.
“That's not for me to figure out,” McCutchen said. “All I need to do is my part and my job. It doesn't matter, honestly. Whoever does that stuff, that's their job.”
Burnett added that everybody in the NL All-Star locker room would welcome more help, but he’s confident in the Pirates clubhouse. Pittsburgh is on pace for their third straight NL Wild Card, but Burnett said it’s about shooting for the division.
That shot is open. The Pirates are 27-11 since June 1. Pittsburgh ranks second in the majors in team ERA at 2.86; a shade behind the Cardinals at 2.71. The Pirates also are 32-16 at PNC Park, the third-best home record in the NL.
The rest comes with the maturation process of the last two runs. At the center is Cole, who is 13-3 with a 2.30 ERA and 116 strikeouts in 117.1 innings. He spoke at length about that process at All-Star media day Monday.
“It takes a while, you know,” Cole said. “There are three decks, 40,000 people, a bunch of questions, 1,000 microphones in your face. It's not the easiest thing to get used to all the time.”
Pittsburgh appears more comfortable in the role of contender, but there are still 35 games against NL Central opponents left.
That's why Cole said the Pirates can’t rest on a few walk-offs. Cole embodies exactly how it feels to pitch in a heated division and playoff race with one fantastic whirlwind.
"When you are really wanting to win games and you are playing in the NL Central, and you're either one game behind the Cardinals or one game in front of the Cardinals, and the Cubs are on your ass, and so are the Reds, then all of a sudden the Brewers come in and beat you for a three-game series,” Cole said. “It's stressful.”
Cole then stopped and finished that thought in a more relaxed tone.
"Finding that comfort level,” Cole said. “Finding that mindset. It's like, 'Hey I'm good enough to compete.’ I'm just going to make this as simple as I can."
That's the secret to Pittsburgh's success. Relax. Keep it simple. Maybe with more back-to-back extra-inning walk-off theatrics. Maybe with another player or two. Maybe not.
No matter what, they are good enough to win the NL Central. They are good enough for more, and they know what's coming.
“It basically doesn't matter who is out there,” McCutchen said. “We're grinding. That's what we do."
