Here’s Major League Baseball’s Surprise of the Year

Major League Baseball’s 2023 season is still in its infancy, but the Pittsburgh Pirates are arguably the biggest surprise so far. Thursday at PNC Park, they continued their momentum by defeating the mighty Los Angeles Dodgers 6-2.

Thanks to this win, the Pennsylvania team won its three-game series against the city of the angels and increased its record to 18-8, good for first place in the National.

Also, for the first time since 2015, it is 10 games above the .500 mark.

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What explains the sudden success of the Pirates, who have won only one playoff series since their last World Series conquest in 1979? First and foremost, the prowess of their gunners.

In the match of the day, Mitch Keller (3-0) made 10 strikeouts for the first time in his career, marking the 16th quality start for the Pirates since the start of the campaign.

The visitors hit just five hits off Keller in six innings, then were muzzled by the relievers who came after him. David Peralta drove in the only runs for his team with a single in the first inning.

The Pirates, however, were quick to respond. Jack Suwinski and Bryan Reynolds first sent a teammate home with a single. Rodolfo Castro then allowed the latter to score by hitting a sacrifice ball.

Long balls from Connor Joe and Castro, in the sixth period, capped the victory for the Pirates.

Elsewhere, 33-year-old rookie Drew Maggi played his second game in the majors. He is still looking for a first hit after four appearances at the plate.

Julio Urias (3-3) took the loss on the Dodgers side. He allowed all of the opposition’s runs, seven safe hits and two free passes in five and two-thirds innings.