Joshua Palacios drives in two runs vs. D-backs

PHOENIX — With outfielder Bryan Reynolds — Pittsburgh’s most productive hitter this season — on the bereavement list, manager Derek Shelton made his message to the club clear.

“[Reynolds is] our best player,” Shelton said before Friday night’s game against the D-backs. “He played every day until Wednesday. For the games that he’s not here, we’re going to need guys to step up because he’s a big part of what we do every day.”

It didn’t take long for Joshua Palacios to answer the challenge. Facing D-backs ace Zac Gallen in the first inning with the bases loaded, Palacios roped a two-run single to kick-start the Pirates’ offense. It was the 28-year-old’s first RBI in seven games since July 14 against the White Sox. Ultimately, the hot start by Palacios wasn’t enough as the Pirates lost 4-3 under the roof at Chase Field.

Reynolds’ absence will only last a couple of games, but a young player like Palacios can start to show the Pirates, who sit 2 1/2 games behind in the National League Wild Card race, that they can rely on him for big moments.

“I don’t look too deep into it,” Palacios said. “I’m just trying to go out there and win every single day. It’d be great to have Reynolds here, but whatever situation I’m put into, I’m trying to compete and do everything I can to help my team and get the overall goal, which is the ‘W.’”

Palacios got off to a slow start in Spring Training as nursed a calf injury. When he finally got to Triple-A Indianapolis, he was excited to get back on track, but he landed on the injured list again and was out until June 11. He hit .362 in 13 games for Indianapolis.

As a player trying to break out, he continues to learn from everyone around the clubhouse, especially Reynolds, who represented the Pirates at the All-Star Game with Paul Skenes.

“The consistency in his approach,” Palacios said of Reynolds. “He goes in every day, same guy, same focus. He’s locked in and trusts that it’ll pay off in the end. I learn a lot from that.”

One thing Palacios’ teammates can learn from him is the energy he brings to the team. He is known for his joyous personality and his wide smile that is infectious among the clubhouse. He said it all stems from growing up as a young baseball player in Brooklyn, where even a last-minute pick-up game felt like he was competing in a playoff-like atmosphere.

“It’s just my personality,” Palacios said. “I just love what I do. I thank God every day for giving me the opportunity to do this. So I go out there and try to enjoy it as much as possible, have fun, compete and I love winning with the boys. There’s nothing like it.”

Outside of the first and second inning, in which Andrew McCutchen drove in Joey Bart with a double, there wasn’t much to celebrate for the Pirates. The offense didn’t have an answer for Gallen and the bullpen and finished 1-for-11 with runners in scoring position. Pirates starting pitcher Luis L. Ortiz gave up three runs, including a 453-foot homer to Joc Pederson.

That doesn’t taint what the Pirates have done as of late. Pittsburgh has won their past four series, and have a golden opportunity to separate themselves in the Wild Card race as they close out the series against the D-backs, who are one game out of the Wild Card, and play them again next weekend at home.

“We are a resilient group and we have amazing talent on this team,” Palacios said. “We’re capable of a lot of things that just didn’t work out this time. But hey, we go back tomorrow, we get back to what we do and things that are going to turn out better.”