TG Fantasy Baseball

PITTSBURGH (AP) — Ke’Bryan Hayes had three hits and scored the tiebreaking run on Yoshi Tsutsugo’s infield single in the eighth inning as the Pittsburgh Pirates beat the Colorado Rockies 2-1 on Monday night.

Hayes singled to lead off the eighth against Tyler Kinley (1-1), stole second base and advanced to third on Daniel Vogelbach’s groundout. Tsutsugo then beat out a slow bouncer to second base, enabling Hayes to score.

Hayes was happy to manufacture a run, especially after the Pirates had been 2 for 12 with runners in scoring position before Tsutsugo’s hit.

“It’s hard to get runs at this level,” Hayes said. “We’re not a team that’s going to hit three or four home runs in a game. We’re just trying to keep the line moving and get those big hits whenever we can and move guys over.”

Despite numerous pickoff throws from Kinley, Hayes was determined to steal his way into scoring position.

“After a few deliveries to home, his times to the plate were in my favor,” Hayes said. “I kind of shortened my lead up, just in case, so I didn’t get picked off because I knew with his times, I would be able to get there easier.”

David Bednar (1-0) escaped a first-and-second jam in the eighth to keep the game tied at 1. He followed with a scoreless ninth.

Josh VanMeter added two hits for the Pirates, who had lost three straight games. Connor Joe had two hits for the Rockies.

Pirates starter JT Brubaker gave up only one unearned run in 6 2/3 innings on five hits yet remained winless in nine starts this season. He struck out four and walked two after notching a career-high 10 strikeouts in his previous start in a loss to the Chicago Cubs.

Brubaker’s throwing error led to the Rockies eventually scoring their run in the fourth inning on...