Reynolds, Bell, Marte star in Pirates’ comeback

ARLINGTON -- For the first time in nine days, there was music blaring in the Pirates’ postgame clubhouse. After eight straight losses and eight scoreless innings to begin Tuesday night’s game, they had a reason to celebrate.

The Bucs ended their losing streak with a dramatic, 6-4 win over the Rangers in 11 innings at Globe Life Park.

They trailed by three with three outs to go. They trailed by two with one out to go. Then Josh Bell ripped a game-tying double to left-center in the ninth, Bryan Reynolds clubbed his first Major League homer in the 11th, and Starling Marte punctuated the night with a two-run shot in his return from the injured list.

“It’s nice every time we come back to the clubhouse after a win and play the music very loud,” Marte said. “That pressure is gone. Tomorrow’s a new game.”

Let’s take a look at three of the key players in their first win since April 20.

Bell

After striking out on a fastball away in the eighth inning, Bell stopped just short of slamming his bat over home plate. He was thinking about his grandmother.

Bell, a Dallas native, had family and friends in attendance on Tuesday. His grandmother wasn’t there, as it turned out, but he didn’t want to risk upsetting her by lashing out in frustration.

Instead, he made her proud in his next at-bat.

Reynolds doubled to lead off the ninth, then Cole Tucker and Adam Frazier hit singles off Rangers closer Jose Leclerc to put the Pirates on the board. After Marte and Gregory Polanco struck out, up came Bell with the Bucs one out away from a nine-game losing streak.

Frustrated by outside pitches all night, Bell connected on a 1-0 fastball away and lined it to left-center for a game-tying double. The hometown kid kept his team in the game.

“I felt that support from my friends and family. I knew they were there. I could hear them,” Bell said. “I knew they were watching. For me to be able to come through and pull through for the team right there, I can’t ask for much more.”

It was an encouraging finish to an excellent offensive month for Bell. The switch-hitter is slashing .286/.363/.592 with 16 extra-base hits and 21 RBIs in 27 games.

“He’s turning into a professional hitter,” manager Clint Hurdle said. “That was his goal coming into the season after the lessons he learned last year, and he’s taken some nice strides through the month of April.”

Reynolds

It’s not supposed to look this easy, right?

Reynolds had two of the night’s biggest hits, the double to right that started Pittsburgh’s ninth-inning rally and the solo homer off reliever Jesse Chavez that put the Pirates ahead in the 11th inning.

“He’s given us a shot in the arm,” Hurdle said of Reynolds.

The switch-hitting rookie is on an eight-game hitting streak to begin his career; since 1900, only Polanco has put together a longer career-opening hitting streak for the Pirates. Polanco was also the last Pirates player whose first Major League homer gave his team the lead in extra innings.

With a 2-2 count, Reynolds fouled off three straight pitches before blasting a 90.1-mph cutter 408 feet to center field.

“I just wanted to put it in play and get on base somehow, and that happened,” Reynolds said. “Can’t ask for much more.”

In the dugout, the Pirates rewarded Reynolds with the silent treatment. But they were not muted in their praise for the understated outfielder.

“It seems like three out of four at-bats, he’s hitting the ball over 100 mph," Bell said. "That plays at this level. ... He’s lights-out, and he’s fun to watch.”

Marte

Marte felt good enough to play on Tuesday, which is why the Pirates activated him off the injured list, started him in center and slotted him into the second spot in the lineup. He felt even better after the game.

“I never lost my confidence,” Marte said.

His two-run blast to right-center gave the Pirates a three-run lead in the 11th inning, and those insurance runs turned out to be necessary as closer Felipe Vazquez gave up a 467-foot solo homer to Joey Gallo before securing his seventh save.

Marte lined out in his first two at-bats then struck out three times before going deep in the 11th. His numbers aren’t where he expects them to be, but his presence is critical for Pittsburgh’s lineup and outfield defense.

The Pirates are 12-5 with Marte in the lineup this season and 1-9 without him. He proved his importance again on Tuesday.

“Marte puts an exclamation point on the end of his night for a guy that’s been out 10-11 days and hasn’t seen any live pitching,” Hurdle said.