The Pirates celebrating Josh Bell's walk-off double Sunday. Jul 15, 2018; Pittsburgh, PA, USA; Pittsburgh Pirates first baseman Josh Bell (left) is mobbed by teammates after driving in the game winning run against the Milwaukee Brewers during the tenth inning at PNC Park. Pittsburgh won 7-6 in ten innings. Mandatory Credit: Charles LeClaire-USA TODAY Sports

Rainy weather often leads to some weird sports moments, and what the Pittsburgh Pirates did Sunday to complete a five-game sweep of the Milwaukee Brewers certainly qualifies. The Pirates were down 5-3 heading into the ninth, and while they loaded the bases with none out, shortstop Jordy Mercer hit into a double play, scoring one run but leaving them one out from a loss. Pinch-hitter David Freese then connected for a triple to right-field on a 1-2 count, though, driving in Josh Bell to tie the game.

And while Corey Dickerson grounded out to send the game to extra innings, and while the Brewers got a run of their own in the top of the 10th and the Pirates again wound up with two out and only a runner on first (Gregory Polanco, thanks to a single), things got better from there. Milwaukee brought in fresh pitcher Dan Jennings, but Colin Moran then singled to set up Bell’s walk-off double in the pouring rain:

That’s one that probably doesn’t happen if the weather conditions are better. Bell hit that well, but centerfielder Lorenzo Cain might have had a better read on it in clear conditions and gone back more quickly. And even more importantly, while Polanco scored easily once this ball hit the ground, the Brewers had a great chance to get Moran at the plate and send this one to the 11th. Cain’s throw got there in plenty of time, but catcher Erik Kratz wasn’t able to haul it in. That let Moran score and paved the way for Pittsburgh celebrations, and for complaints from some Brewers’ fans, including (yet again) Kato Kaelin:

That might be a little harsh. But being on the wrong end of a five-game sweep is pretty rough, and pretty unusual; most series don’t run that long, and it’s quite rare to see one team win all five games in the ones that do. The last five-game sweep in Major League Baseball saw the New York Yankees take five from the Boston Red Sox in 2006. And the Pirates hadn’t pulled off a five-game sweep since 1996 in San Francisco against the Giants. The 48-49 Pirates are still in fourth in the NL Central, and the 55-43 Brewers are in second (behind the 55-38 Chicago Cubs), so this series doesn’t necessarily make Pittsburgh the better team overall, but they sure had Milwaukee’s number this week. And that sweep, pulled off with a little help from the rain, could have implications for both clubs in the stretch run.

[MLB.com]

About Andrew Bucholtz

Andrew Bucholtz has been covering sports media for Awful Announcing since 2012. He is also a staff writer for The Comeback. His previous work includes time at Yahoo! Sports Canada and Black Press.