PITTSBURGH — The atmosphere was toxic at the Pittsburgh Pirates’ home opener last year.
The tone was set an hour before the game when an airplane flew over PNC Park, urging frugal owner Bob Nutting to sell the team. Manager Derek Shelton was booed during pregame introductions. The boos increased throughout the day as the Pirates lost to the New York Yankees 9-4.
There was an undercurrent of hopelessness among the fans as Pittsburgh was in the early stages of a 29th losing season in the last 33 years.
A year later, it was a festive day on the shores of the Allegheny River on Friday as the Pirates held off the Baltimore Orioles 5-4 in the home opener. The sellout crowd was into the game from the first pitch until the last out.
The fans’ energy was not lost on the players or manager Don Kelly, who was born and raised in Western Pennsylvania.
“How about that atmosphere today?” Kelly exclaimed at the beginning of his postgame press conference. “Geez, that's the most electric that I've heard PNC. Credit to the fans for the atmosphere, the electricity, it was unbelievable.
"I get emotional about that, because being from here, being able to see PNC Park's energy, even before we took the field, the chants when we were on the (foul) line (for pregame introductions), that's what it's all about. We need to continue to earn that back."
A big reason for the charged atmosphere was the debut of 19-year-old shortstop Konnor Griffin. He did not disappoint, going 1 for 3 with a double and a walk.
Griffin’s double came in his initial plate appearance in the second inning, driving in the game’s first run. The laser into the left-center field gap put the crowd into a frenzy.
Mitch Keller, who was the starter and winner, could feel the energy throughout his six innings in which he allowed two runs. In last year’s home opener, Keller got tagged for seven runs in 3 2/3 innings and was booed off the mound.
Keller got goosebumps walking in from the bullpen to the dugout with catcher Henry Davis after warming up before the game.
“It was unbelievable,” Keller said. “I took a moment before the game just to kind of look around, take it all in. It kind of felt like a playoff crowd. It’s something we strive for. On our walk in with Henry from the bullpen, I was like, ‘Hey, man. This is what we play for. Let’s go. Let’s have some fun. We’ll revisit this crowd in October when we’re here.’
“That was a really cool conversation we had coming in. The fans brought it. It was fun, electric. Everyone played really well. It was just an all-around great day.”
This day gave hope to a fanbase long deprived of a division title or postseason success, reminding everyone of the sharp contrast to last year.
However, the hope comes from the Pirates being in win-now mode rather than rebuilding for the first time in Ben Cherington’s seven years as general manager. Griffin is now in the big leagues, joining offseason additions Brandon Lowe, Ryan O’Hearn, and Marcell Ozuna to bolster a lineup that finished last in the majors in runs scored last season.
For Kelly, winning is essential to maintain fan engagement.
“We need to keep it up, continue to earn that,” Kelly said. “Go out there and play good baseball every single day. The guys, even during the pitching change, were talking about it, the electricity, and how awesome it was. It was a really good baseball game and a really good atmosphere."
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