CHICAGO — Sunday represented just the 16th game of the season for the Pirates, but already Roberto Perez sensed an important inflection point looming.
In Cleveland, Perez watched young, hungry players overachieve, spurred by desire and effort and the outright dismissal of outside noise. There might be some of that here, Perez believes, but how the Pirates reacted to the worst loss in franchise history would be telling for the veteran catcher.
"I really thought [Sunday] would show what kind of team we are," Perez said.
So what kind of team are the Pirates? If their 4-3 victory over the Cubs at Wrigley Field serves as any indication — and Perez believes wholeheartedly that it does — this could turn out to be a wild ride, much like what the Pirates experienced over nine wacky innings on the north side of Chicago to complete a four-game set.
"Everybody in here is in the same boat — we want to win," Perez told the Post-Gazette. "I don’t believe in rebuilding. We have the right people. We did it in Cleveland. We were young. We just wanted it. At the end of the day, it’s really about, How bad you want it?’ ”
Pretty damn bad from the looks of it. The areas on which to focus were as many as the clubhouse music was loud before the Pirates, having taken three of four here, flew home to celebrate Monday's off day in style.
Jake Marisnick certainly looked like someone who wanted it when he made a laser of a throw from right field in the ninth, ensuring Rafael Ortega could not advance the final 90 feet to tie the game on Seiya Suzuki's double.
Especially considering he and several other Pirates have been battling some sort of non-COVID illness making its way through the team.
So did David Bednar, who closed the game by pumping three fastballs by Frank Schwindel, the third at 98 mph. Bednar has allowed just three earned runs over his past 33 2/3 innings (0.80 ERA).
"Just trying to blow some doors," Bednar said. "That’s really all it was."
Don't stop there. Seriously. The how-bad-do-you-want-it vibes came from everywhere. It certainly seemed like Wil Crowe wanted it. He chipped in 1 1/3 innings of scoreless relief — like he offers any other kind — and picked up his teammates in a big way.
A Patrick Wisdom bloop fell between Yoshi Tsutsugo and Michael Chavis with nobody out in the seventh. Crowe responded by freezing Nick Madrigal on a sinker, then got Ortega to pop out to third and Suzuki to line out to Marisnick.
For those scoring at home, that's 13 1/3 scoreless innings to start the season for Crowe, spread across six appearances.
"He continues to take steps forward," manager Derek Shelton said of Crowe. “And he took another one [Sunday]."
Crowe's confidence has soared. The new role and attacking mindset fits his competitive personality. His four walks against 16 strikeouts would fit any major league bullpen.
"I feel like I’m pitching really well," Crowe said. "Just have to keep it up, keep doing my job and try to help the team win as many games as possible."
A few lockers down from Crowe sits Dillon Peters, who was hitting up the ATM machine early Sunday evening to ensure he tipped the clubhouse attendants. Smart move, but it's really been the left-hander who's money.
JT Brubaker lasted just three innings because he, too, was sick. Peters backed Brubaker up with 2 2/3 innings of scoreless ball. Having not allowed a hit through a franchise-record (since 1974) 25 plate appearances to start the year, Peters actually saw one fall to start the fourth.
He reacted by shrugging his shoulders, refocusing and instructing the next seven Cubs to take a seat.
"My mindset is always to attack, get ahead, stay ahead and put these guys on their heels from the time I’m in the game until the time I leave," Peters said.
The bounce-back, feel-good performances weren't limited to pitchers, either. Kevin Newman, as sure-handed as anyone last season, booted two balls Saturday.
Newman's errors extended an eight-run second and surely irritated the Gold Glove finalist; however, Newman didn't let any frustration fester. He kept a throw from Brubaker from skipping in center and turned a double play in the third, then ranged into the hole for a spectacular play in the fifth.
At the plate, Newman had two hits, was on base three times and scalded a 105.3 mph double that turned out to be the winning run after Ian Happ homered off Heath Hembree in the eighth.
"It just comes down to how I can contribute to winning," Newman said. "Thankfully, I was able to contribute [Sunday]. We got the win, so happy to help."
Sort through the micro on this one all you want. You'll find Ben Gamel and Yoshi Tsutsugo driving in runs. Some sloppy play from Chicago's Jonathan Villar, too.
But as the Pirates enjoy a day off back home and prepare to welcome the Brewers for a midweek series at PNC Park, it might be best to consider the bigger picture, which is where Perez and his perspective comes into play.
Perez caught some horses in Cleveland. He's also been on some exciting young teams that punched above their weight. It's early, but the Pirates have proven to be an interesting study.
Seemingly young enough to not know how many expect them to fare? Or resilient enough to not care? Either way, it works.
"This game is hard," Perez said. "Games like [Saturday] are gonna happen. But if we let it slide and don't do anything about it, all of a sudden we'll look back and we will have lost 10 in a row. That's why I was so happy to see that we bounced back well.
"Guys are young here, but they're mature, man. They know what they're doing. It's been a lot of fun so far, and hopefully we can keep it going."
Jason Mackey: jmackey@post-gazette.com and Twitter @JMackeyPG.
First Published: April 24, 2022, 11:03 p.m.
Updated: April 25, 2022, 10:08 a.m.
