The Pittsburgh Pirates find themselves in last place in the NL Central, likely missing the playoffs for the ninth consecutive season. Despite rookie All-Star game starter Paul Skenes shining as a bright spot, the Pirates entered Monday five games below .500 and face the prospect of a sixth-straight losing season. Despite the challenging year, one veteran player remains committed to giving his all for Pittsburgh.
After missing three games due to a knee injury, this player returned to the field and hit two home runs in Sunday’s extra-innings loss to the Los Angeles Dodgers. According to ESPN, the 16-year veteran acknowledged that his knee is only around 70 percent recovered.
“Seventy percent is better than zero percent, so if I can swing the bat, I’m gonna swing it,” he told ESPN.
The 37-year-old, who is a five-time All-Star, was back in Pittsburgh’s lineup and leading off. He had been sidelined since sustaining the injury while trying to score the game-tying run in the 10th inning against the San Diego Padres last Wednesday. On Sunday, he returned to the team and provided most of the Pirates’ offense, going 2-for-5 with two home runs and four RBIs.
Andrew McCutchen of the Pirates is setting a strong example for his team.
In the third inning, McCutchen launched a home run and followed up with another two-run shot in the eighth to tie the game. The Pirates briefly took the lead in the top of the 10th, but the Dodgers rallied in the bottom of the inning, with Teoscar Hernandez sealing the game with a walk-off RBI single.
The Dodgers completed a sweep of the Pirates in the three-game series, extending Pittsburgh’s losing streak to a season-high seven games and nine of their last 10. Despite this rough stretch and another difficult season, McCutchen’s determination sent a strong message to his team.
He’s committed to playing his role and doing whatever it takes to help Pittsburgh turn things around. “If I can’t run, I can’t run, but my job is to hit, to DH … Just keep the line moving, get the next guy up and that’s what I’m going to do,” McCutchen told ESPN.
