Alvarez, Pirates find oasis in September desert

by Matt Gajtka

After getting embarrassed in losing three straight games in Los Angeles and dropping the first of a three-game series with NL West-leading Arizona 1-0 Monday night, the Pirates were looking for relief that maybe only the end of the season could provide.

Instead, with a 5-3 win Tuesday at Chase Field, Pittsburgh stumbled upon an unexpected natural spring in the desert and took a healthy gulp.

Yes, the Bucs (69-86) are still in danger of losing 90 games just two months after being tied for first place in the NL Central. Of course, one promising game in what has been a desultory several weeks cannot logically be extrapolated to anything significant.

Nevertheless, what made Tuesday night in the Arizona desert so refreshing was the Pirates’ method of victory. Firstly, starter Charlie Morton dodged a handful of baserunners to post six scoreless innings. Although he still has one start left in his promising 2011 season, his effort against the power-hitting Diamondbacks is a good example of how far he’s come in a year. (Also, reaching 10 wins is a nice, albeit cosmetic, touch.)

Aside from Morton’s competence and a clinching two-run homer from first baseman Derrek Lee – who may or may not be seriously courted by Bucco brass this winter – the unlikely star of Tuesday’s show was third baseman Pedro Alvarez.

Alvarez launched a mammoth homer and delivered three gem-like plays in the field, giving Pirates fans flashbacks to how comfortable he seemed late last season, when he was National League rookie of the month for September. All of Alvarez’ fast-twitch potential has been largely in hiding this summer, but it gloriously emerged in the span of a couple hours.

The 2008 No. 2 overall draft pick’s night wasn’t perfect. He struck out twice on pitches well outside the strike zone and threw away a bunt in the eighth inning that led to a run. But one gets the sense that, even if he develops into a legitimate star, Alvarez will always have lapses at the plate and in the field. The hope is that the good will largely outweigh the bad, much like it did Tuesday.

There are seven games left for the Pirates in what has been an incredibly up-and-down season. It appears the team will improve on last year’s record by around 15 games, but at this stage individual improvement supersedes the won-lost record by a wide margin.

Interestingly enough, Alvarez’ great night came just hours after the Pirates announced he wouldn’t be playing winter ball, sending many Pirates followers into hysterics and causing others general disappointment. Maybe this is the proper move to “reset” Pedro after what was the toughest year of his baseball life. Maybe it’s a mistake. We just won’t know until next spring.

We do know Alvarez is certainly worth all the attention and concern, but it’s nice to get a tangible reminder of how much the Vanderbilt product can mean to the Pirates’ climb back to relevancy.