6/11/23- By Michael Castrignano – @412DoublePlay on Twitter
14 years and 7 days. Five different teams. Overcoming injuries and moving primarily into a DH-role. Now, Andrew McCutchen joins the 2,000 hit club as its 290th member.
McCutchen notched his 1,999th hit on Friday night on a third inning, infield-single to shortstop. He wasn’t able to get a hit in any of the following 7 plate appearances on Friday and Saturday but didn’t wait around in his first at-bat today as he cracked a single into left field on the third pitch he saw in the game. Cutch tipped his helmet as he received a long and well-deserved standing ovation from the crowd.
Keller was cruising today, going 7 innings, 2 hits, 1 run, 2 walks, 1 hit by pitch and 7 strikeouts. His two hits was the lowest he’s allowed in a start thus far this season. He allowed a solo home run to Jeff McNeil in the 4th and then proceeded to shut Mets bats down after that.
Following the solo shot, Jack Suwinski immediately evened it up with a solo shot of his own with a mammoth shot over the Clemente Wall. Ji-hwan Bae followed with a 1-out hustle double to right center, moved to third on a wild pitch and scored on a Tucupita Marcano single to right, giving the Pirates a 2-1 lead.
Dauri Moreta took over the 8th, posting a clean inning with a strikeout, and David Bednar shutdown the 9th for his 14th save in 15 chances.
News & Notes
- Prior to the game today, GM Ben Cherington mentioned in his interview on 93.7 that Roansy Contreras would be moved into the bullpen for the time-being and a AAA call-up would be coming to start on Tuesday in Chicago. We have not received confirmation as to who it will be but Jason Mackey of the PPG confirmed that it will not be top pitching prospect Quinn Priester.
- Cutch joins Miguel Cabrera, Joey Votto, Nelson Cruz and Elvis Andrus as the only active 2,000 hit club members
- Cutch achieved a rare feat of his first and 2,000th hits both being against the same team, something accomplished only five times before.
- Rare Pitch Timer Violation strikeout for Mets pinch-hitter Luis Guillorme in the 8th inning.
- Pirates off tomorrow but heading to Chicago to face division rival Cubs on Tuesday. Start time is 8:05PM. Lets Go Bucs!
Steel City Pirates 
One Freddie Freeman injury could see McCutchen first among active hitters to start next season. I say that not to hope for injury but just to note I never conceived of a foremost Pirate being the active career hits leader in my lifetime–but here we are, one happenstance away from it. Remarkable.
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