Throughout the 2015 major league baseball season, I will be releasing a weekly report on the Pittsburgh Pirates.

The Pirates opened things up in Cincinnati on Monday, April 6 in a three-game series against the Reds. Things didn’t start exactly as planned as the Pirates were tied 2-2 in the eighth, only for reliever Tony Watson to give up a three-run home run to Todd Frazier. The Pirates lost that game 5-2.

They then dropped the next two games for a Cincinnati sweep. Not exactly what the Pirates were looking for to start the year.

They were looking to rebound against the Milwaukee Brewers in their second three-game series of the year. Miller Park in Milwaukee is a place where they have had great offensive success in the past. That didn’t change in two of these games.

On Friday, April 10, the Bucs got their first win of the season against the Brewers 6-2, where staring pitcher Jeff Locke put on a solid performance. Pedro Alvarez drove in two RBI’s and hit his first home run of the season. McCutchen left the game in the ninth with knee soreness.

In the second game of the series, the Pirates couldn’t do anything offensively. They only had two hits in the 6-0 loss.

But Sunday, April 12 was the best performance of the season offensively thus far. McCutchen returned from his injury and made a huge difference. He hit a three-run home run in the sixth to put the Pirates up 4-2, and they never lost the lead after that. In the top of the ninth, the Pirates put together a six-run inning highlighted by a three-run home run by Neil Walker.

On Monday, April 13, the Pirates had their home opener in front of a sold out crowd against the 6-0 Detroit Tigers. Gerrit Cole, who is supposed to be the ace for the Bucs this year, got the start.

Things picked up early for the Pirates, as leadoff hitter Josh Harrison hit a home run on the first pitch he saw in the bottom of the first to put the Pirates up 1-0.

Cole was dominate all day, allowing three hits and one earned run.

Jared Hughes made a huge relief appearance in the seventh replacing Cole with the bases loaded and no outs. Hughes drew a double play and ground out to hold the Tigers to only one run.

In the bottom of the seventh is when the Pirates really extended their lead. Pedro Alvarez hit a solo home run, and new Pirate Corey Hart hit a two-run homer to give the Pirates a 5-2 lead. The Bucs had a slight scare in the ninth, but won 5-4, giving the Tigers their first loss of the season

So far, Pedro Alvarez has three home runs, and is batting .304, which are both team bests and just what the Pirates have expected of him so far.

Andrew McCutchen’s batting average isn’t great, but he has driven in seven runs.

The Bucs are now 3-4 but are riding a two-game win steak, and looking to build on it.

Editor’s note:  This article was written before the Pirates’ 2-0 loss to the Tigers on Tuesday, April 14.