JT Brubaker tosses 6 scoreless innings as Pirates top Rockies, snap 6-game losing streak

JT Brubaker pitched six scoreless innings as the Pittsburgh Pirates snapped a six-game losing skid with a 7-0 win over the Colorado Rockies in the first game of a seven-inning doubleheader Saturday afternoon before an announced crowd of 5,279 at PNC Park.

It was a makeup of Friday’s game, which was postponed due to inclement weather.

“Really all my pitches (were working),” Brubaker said. “Just a mix of everything, being able to throw them for strikes and then being able to throw them for chase when I need to.”

The Pirates (19-31) had been outscored 46-10 in the previous six games, including a 20-1 loss to the Atlanta Braves on May 21. They pounded out eight hits, including three extra-base hits, for their largest margin of victory this season. They had beaten the Chicago Cubs by six runs in back-to-back games last month, winning 8-2 on April 10 (also to snap a six-game losing streak) and 7-1 on April 11.

“It always feels good when you win, and especially when you score a lot of runs like that,” said Pirates right fielder Gregory Polanco, who went 2 for 4 with a triple, a sacrifice fly and a run scored. “It’s tough for us, and we will continue to push this team. We’re just going to keep swinging, man, because it’s not easy, but it’s not impossible.”

It was a strong bounce-back start for Brubaker (4-4), who had given up four home runs and 12 earned runs in his previous two starts. After allowing a single and a walk in the first inning, he retired the next nine batters and 13 of 14 before getting out of a bases-loaded jam in the sixth.

“Good start by Bru,” Pirates manager Derek Shelton said. “Really efficient, commanded the zone. When he got off track, he got himself on really quick, which was really good to see. Came right out and attacked.”

The Pirates gave Brubaker a cushion with a three-run second inning. Wilmer Difo drew a leadoff double, advanced to second on Cole Tucker’s single to right and scored on a line drive by Michael Perez to center for a 1-0 lead. Brubaker drew a walk to load the bases for Adam Frazier, whose fielder’s choice scored Tucker for a 2-0 lead. Perez scored on Ben Gamel’s sacrifice fly to left field for a 3-0 edge.

Bryan Reynolds smacked a Jhoulys Chacin slider 390 feet into the right-field seats for a two-run shot that gave the Pirates a 5-0 lead in the fifth inning. It was the sixth home run this season for Reynolds, who passed Colin Moran for the team lead.

Polanco followed with a triple off the Clemente Wall, and he scored on Tucker’s grounder to second by sliding under the tag of catcher Dom Nunez. The Rockies challenged the call, but it was upheld after a 3-minute, 15-second video review.

Will Craig provided a moment of levity, two days after delivering one that will live in infamy. Craig hit a roller down the first-base line that was fielded by Chacin. Instead of backtracking toward home plate — and reliving the infamous rundown with Javier Baez on Thursday — Craig stopped and allowed Chacin to tag him out.

The Rockies (19-33) responded by loading the bases with one out in the sixth. Brubaker gave up a single to Raimel Tapia, a double to Ryan McMahon and hit C.J. Cron with a pitch. But Charlie Blackmon popped up to Polanco — whose pinpoint throw to the plate prevented a run — and got out of the jam when Brendan Rodgers flew out to right.

“One, he went a long way. Two, he’s got wind and rain right in his face. Three, he comes up and makes a good throw, keeps us there,” Shelton said. “That’s important because if that doesn’t happen, Bru probably doesn’t last through that inning.”

Brubaker recorded five strikeouts and allowed four hits, one walk and a hit batsman on 79 pitches, and he wanted to go back out for the seventh. Shelton opted for Chasen Shreve, who completed the shutout.

“I think he wanted the seventh from the way that he looked at me when I came down there,” Shelton said. “He wanted the seventh, but he had worked hard in the sixth to get through it. Appreciate the effort. If it would have been efficient in the sixth, he probably would have gotten a chance in the seventh. But I think we were happy with where he was at.”