'Wanted to do it here in Pittsburgh': McCutchen gets 2,000th hit - ESPN

PITTSBURGH — Andrew McCutchen recorded his 2,000th hit, Jack Suwinski hit his 12th home run and the Pittsburgh Pirates edged the Mets 2-1 on Sunday, New York's eight loss in nine games.

McCutchen became the 291st player and fifth active player to reach 2,000 hits when he turned on a slider from Carlos Carrasco (2-3) leading off the first and laced it to left field.

The five-time All-Star, who signed a one-year deal in January to return to the team he starred for from 2009-17, drew a loud ovation from his adopted hometown as he rounded first base with his wife Maria and their three children watching from a private box along the third-base line.

McCutchen became the fifth active player with 2,000 career hits, after Miguel Cabrera (3,110), Joey Votto (2,093), Nelson Cruz (2,043) and Elvis Andrus (2,027).

«To be able to do it on the last day… I wanted to do it here in Pittsburgh,» McCutchen said, referring to the last game of the Pirates' homestand. «I was glad to be able to do it here. It was a special moment.»

McCutchen's return to Pittsburgh has provided a spark to the surprising Pirates. And he is thriving in the role of elder statesman trying to help a young group learn how to win.

Mr. 2,000 pic.twitter.com/KUmAsF8Dg1

His approach as 2,000 hits offered a lesson in patience. McCutchen entered Sunday having drawn 12 walks in his last nine games. He didn't let the count get that deep against Carrasco, swinging at the third pitch he saw to reach 2,000 just over 14 years after his first big league hit, a single against the Mets on June 4, 2009.

After the hit, the Pirates played a video on the Jumbotron with several Pittsburgh sports legends offering their congratulations to McCutchen. Included in that production was former