Pirates impressed by Anthony Alford's 'awesome' diving catch against Cardinals

When Harrison Bader roped a line drive to lead off the fifth inning Wednesday night at PNC Park, Pittsburgh Pirates left fielder Anthony Alford saw it as an opportunity to put his athleticism on full display.

Alford sprinted to his right and stretched out to make a diving catch to rob the St. Louis Cardinals outfielder of an extra-base hit. Statcast rated it a five-star catch, one that defied its 20% catch probability.

All out Alford. pic.twitter.com/7tO7rkpdW1

— Pittsburgh Pirates (@Pirates) August 12, 2021

Following the 4-0 loss to the Cardinals, Pirates manager Derek Shelton raved about Alford’s “really good defense” since being selected from Triple-A Indianapolis on Saturday.

“He got a really good jump, left his feet, really impressive play,” Shelton said. “He’s done a nice job in the outfield in the four games he’s been out there.”

After his 2020 season ended last September when he crashed into the center-field wall at PNC Park and fractured his right (throwing) elbow, Alford is making the most of his second chance this season. He earned a spot in the Opening Day lineup as the starter in center, only to be designated for assignment after getting two hits in his first 24 at-bats.

When Alford and Dustin Fowler struggled to hit in April, the Pirates shifted Bryan Reynolds to center. Alford shined at Triple-A Indianapolis and took over in left field last weekend, when Ben Gamel went on the 10-day injured list with a right hamstring strain.

It’s been an adjustment but one Alford has made seamlessly.

“I think that it can be tough in left field sometimes with balls with topspin that kind of die on you, but I think I had a really good jump on it, those first few steps,” Alford said of Bader’s liner. “He kind of hit it hard, so I kind of went and paused for a second, then I was fortunate to have some makeup speed.”

Alford, who played quarterback at Southern Miss and safety at Ole Miss, also showed his closing speed in Tuesday’s 4-1 loss to the Cardinals by tracking down several balls hit deep. One was a 104-mph, 388-foot drive by Tommy Edman in the fifth inning. Nolan Arenado sent another 376 feet to the wall in the eighth.

Alford also was involved in a play that got the Pirates out of a jam in the fourth inning Wednesday, when Yadier Molina singled to left to score Paul Goldschmidt. Alford’s throw to home plate was cut off by third baseman Ke’Bryan Hayes, who got Arenado in a 7-5-6-4 rundown for the final out after the Cardinals took a 1-0 lead.

“It’s a really good feeling, I guess, anytime I can save a run or whatever it is. I definitely take pride in it,” Alford said. “It takes some of the stress off of our pitchers.”

Pirates starter Wil Crowe said he takes comfort in knowing that Alford, along with Reynolds in center and Gregory Polanco in right, have the speed to track down fly balls. When Crowe saw Alford in the clubhouse after the game, the pitcher tapped the outfielder and thanked him again for making a catch Crowe described as “awesome.”

“That was a great play, probably one of the better plays I’ve seen in my career — especially with me on the mound,” Crowe said. “That was big.”