The Pittsburgh Pirates turned their clubhouse into a phone booth Thursday afternoon.
That’s where superheroes change into their costumes.
While most of the players were comic-book heroes, ranging from closer Felipe Vazquez as Deadpool to pitcher Nick Kingham as Wolverine, relievers Richard Rodriguez (Jesus Christ) and Kyle Crick — who dressed as Gen. Douglas MacArthur on the 75th anniversary of D-Day — put a different twist on the occasion.
That Pirates players left for a 10-game road trip wearing superhero costumes was appropriate, given that they are 17-13 on the road this season and only 13-18 at PNC Park. So they are embracing the road trip that starts Friday with a three-game series at Milwaukee, given that their record is better away than at home.
The Pirates won 10 of 14 road games last month, including a 7-4 trip that saw them take three of four at both St. Louis and San Diego. However, they followed that West Coast swing by losing five of six at home. They split four games at Cincinnati, then lost four of seven at home to the Brewers and Braves.
Pirates right fielder Gregory Polanco can’t explain it.
“I don’t know. No matter where we are, we compete and we fight every game,” Polanco said. “For some reason, we play better on the road. I have no idea why.”
The Pirates follow the Brewers series with four games at Atlanta and three at Miami before returning home to play Detroit on June 18.
“We’re going there positive, ready to fight, ready to have a good road trip,” Polanco said. “We’ve got a good vibe. Everybody is ready to turn this thing around and go where we were before.”
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