During Monday night’s Pirates-Giants game at AT&T Park, Andrew McCutchen could have had a huge night. In both the third and fifth innings, the 2013 NL MVP came up to the plate with the bases loaded and one out. A hit in either situation would have likely plated at least two runs with the speedy Josh Harrison on second and Gregory Polanco on first.
But instead, McCutchen was forced to settle for a pair of sacrifice flies thanks to some incredible defense in the gaps by Angel Pagan and Hunter Pence.
Two identical situations, two identical results – sac flies to the outfield thanks to 98% route efficiency by the outfielders.
While the good defense helped the Giants immensely in the third after Neil Walker struck out to end the inning, they didn’t get so lucky in the fifth – Walker doubled between Pagan and Nori Aoki to bring home Harrison and Polanco, giving the Pirates a lead they wouldn’t relinquish.
Pittsburgh is still six games out in the NL Central, but is just a game behind the Cubs for second place. The Pirates also have the fourth-best run differential in baseball at +35, behind only the Cardinals, Dodgers, and Royals. After a rough start, it’s all starting to come together – awful luck on balls in play for their best player be damned.
