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Don Kelly Explains Decision To Use Mason Montgomery As An Opener

Don Kelly Explains Decision To Use Mason Montgomery As An Opener originally appeared on SportsNet Pittsburgh. Add SportsNet Pittsburgh as a Preferred Source by clicking here.

The Pittsburgh Pirates opted to use an opener in the series finale on Sunday against the Atlanta Braves.

Pittsburgh was looking to avoid being swept, and just hours before the game, the Pirates announced Mason Montgomery would serve as an opener, with Bubba Chandler coming in later.

Although the Pirates ended up losing 3-2, Pirates manager Don Kelly explained the decision to use Montgomery as an opener.

“We just thought it was a good opportunity to get (Montgomery) in there and have him go through the lineup and get Bubba in down towards the bottom, so when we come back through multiple times, he’s not facing the top of the order,” Kelly said postgame on Sunday.

Montgomery went one scoreless inning before giving the ball to Chandler, who went 5.1 innings, allowing two runs, and was solid.

“I thought it was the best he’s thrown the ball,” Kelly said. “(He was) efficient. He threw strikes there until that last inning. I thought with multiple pitches, the fastball command was much better.”

Although Kelly felt like Chandler pitched well, he does admit that pitching out of the bullpen is a bit different.

“I think coming in from the bullpen is a lot different,” Chandler said. “There’s a little different adrenaline. It was overall pretty good. I just can’t let stuff affect me. My best pitches beat those hitters that I walked. I was not happy about that. I’ll move on.”

With the Pirates losing 3-2 on Sunday, Pittsburgh was swept and fell to 34-32 on the season.

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