Rowdy Tellez turns jeers to cheers with 3 RBIs as Pirates again blank Twins in win.
PITTSBURGH – When Rowdy Tellez entered PNC Park’s left-handed batter’s box in the seventh, it was to the chorus of boos that have become commonplace on the North Shore in recent weeks. By the time the scuffling first baseman returned to the Pittsburgh Pirates’ dugout Saturday afternoon, he was serenaded by cheers and doffed his helmet to a standing ovation from the 29,700 on hand. Tellez, after all, had broken a scoreless tie with his second home run
of the season, a solo shot to center that ensured the Pirates squeaked out a 3-0 win against the Minnesota Twins. For good measure, Tellez slapped an opposite-field single to left in the eighth to increase the Pirates’ lead to a comfortable three runs. It’s been a mercurial journey for Tellez throughout his first season in Pittsburgh after signing a one-year, $3.2 million contract in the offseason. He’s become subject to scrutiny for various reasons, whether it be his slow start to the 2024 campaign or coming to closer David Bednar’s defense after his early struggles. But in June, Tellez slowly has started to look the part of the slugger the Pirates hoped he could be. It
started with arguably his best game with the club last Sunday, when he drove in all four runs during the Pirates’ 5-4 loss to the Toronto Blue Jays. Including Saturday’s exploits, Tellez is 7 for 14 with seven RBIs in June. His average is up to .208, the highest it’s been since May 3. While Connor Joe has earned the lion’s share of playing time at first base this season, and especially so over the last month while Tellez has struggled, it would be to the Pirates’ benefit if both ends of that platoon could play to their potential. Thanks to Tellez’s latest work with the bat, the Pirates are now back to two games under .500, and secured at the very least second
straight series victory. ON THE MOUND It was a bullpen game for the Pirates, since Quinn Priester landed on the injured list earlier this week with a right lat muscle injury. Carmen Mlodzinski started in Priester’s place, covering the game’s first 1 2/3 innings before Luis Ortiz took over. Ortiz was superb, covering a season-high 4 1/3 innings while not allowing a run. He was efficient, too, requiring just 58 pitches, 38 of them strikes, to record 13 outs. The outing lowered Ortiz’s season-long ERA to 2.61, and out-did his most recent appearance in which he
produced the first save of his MLB career. Four other relievers tag-teamed with Mlodzinski and Ortiz to shut out the Twins for the second time in as many days. By blanking Minnesota, the Pirates have recorded four shutouts as a team this season.
