Pitching, Jack Suwinski homer lift Pirates to victory vs. Cubs

Tim Suwinski insisted the salty droplet trickling down his face was sweat.

But no one believed him.

Who could blame Suwinski, a retired carpenter who devoted much of his adult life to chauffeuring his children to their sporting events, if he shed a tear or two in the Wrigley Field bleachers?

It was an emotional night for Tim and his son, Jack, a Chicago native who hit the decisive home run Wednesday night that led the Pittsburgh Pirates to a 3-2 victory against the Chicago Cubs (15-21).

“It’s hard to put into words,” Jack Suwinski said on the YouTube channel whose cameras constantly focused on Tim and his proud family. “(It is) something you think about your whole life and actually happening … indescribable,” he said.

Suwinski’s fifth-inning homer, his third of the season since he was called up from Double-A Altoona on April 26, was the last run of the game for either team and broke a 2-2 tie.

Batting ninth in the order and carrying a .183 batting average into the game, Suwinski launched a 105.3 mph blast to help the Pirates (16-21) score more than one run for the first time in four games. They have won three of their most recent five games, despite getting shut out twice by the Cubs and getting no-hit Sunday while winning, 1-0.

Suwinski, acquired last year from the San Diego Padres in the Adam Frazier trade, worked hard during the eight-pitch at-bat that resulted in his home run.

“I was just trying to go up there and have a competitive at-bat,” said Suwinski, who went to high school 20 minutes from Wrigley Field.

Losing pitcher Drew Smyly threw Suwinski a smorgasbord of eight pitches — sinker, cutter, knuckle curve.

“As I went on and on, I felt a little bit more comfortable,” Suwinski said, “just trying to hold my balance a little bit better.”

Finally, he connected on an 86-mph cutter that flew 410 feet into dead centerfield.

It hasn’t been easy for Suwinski, 23. “I couldn’t imagine getting the call from Double-A (directly to the majors) like he did,” Ke’Bryan Hayes said.

Suwinski said he received encouragement from his teammates.

“A few of the guys were saying, `Stop, look around and remember to smile no matter what.’ That was right before that at-bat,” he said. “I have to give them a little shout-out, keeping me calm, keeping me cool, just remembering to have fun. We’re playing a game.”

Yet, the offensive side of the game has been difficult for the Pirates recently.

Before Wednesday, they were averaging two runs per game (a total of 20) in the previous 10. They totaled one run and eight hits in the most recent three games. All-Star center fielder Bryan Reynolds had his batting average dip to .203 before going 2 for 3 on Wednesday. Michael Chavis added three of his team’s nine hits.

Hayes helped the Pirates break a 20-inning scoreless streak in the third when he doubled with two out, barely missing a home run with a 107.1 mph, 410-foot blast to center field. The baseball bounced high off the wall, the play was reviewed and the double call confirmed.

After Reynolds walked, Hayes scored on Chavis’ single. Daniel Vogelbach broke the 1-1 tie with a single to left field.

With runners on the corners, Rodolfo Castro, who batted fifth, went 0 for 3 and left with a .190 batting average, bounced out to third base.

Three runs often aren’t enough to win games, but four Pirates pitchers limited the Cubs to five hits.

Wil Crowe started and allowed only Ian Happ’s home run in his two innings. He was followed by winning pitcher Mitch Keller, who made his first career relief appearance after 46 major-league starts.

Keller, who had been struggling as a starter with a 6.61 ERA, gave up one run in 2⅔ innings, but his outing could have been worse. He has Hayes to thank for preventing even more damage in the fourth inning.

After Hayes fielded Jonathan Villar’s ground ball single on the outfield grass, Frank Schwindel took a long turn around second base, and Hayes alertly threw him out. Instead of two on and one out, the Cubs had only Villar on first base and two out. Keller’s ensuing walk to Christopher Morel didn’t hurt, and he pitched out of the inning.

Overall, Keller struck out four and gave up three hits, including a double by Seiya Suziki, who later scored. Keller also walked two batters and hit another.

Duane Underwood Jr. and David Bednar worked the final 4⅓ innings, allowing a total of only one hit and one walk. Bednar pitched the eighth and ninth and recorded his eighth save, a major-league high fourth that lasted two innings.