Pirates put their trust in Edinson Volquez against Giants

Pittsburgh —  Edinson Volquez’s renaissance began with a simple game of catch.

During his brief session with Pittsburgh Pirates pitching coach Ray Searage on that January day at the team’s training facility in Florida, the talented but erratic right-hander listened as Searage outlined a plan to help the 31-year-old regain the form that once made him an All-Star.

“He felt wanted,” Searage said. “That builds trust.”

Ten months later, Volquez will try to repay that trust by sending the Pirates into a National League division series for the second straight year when he starts Wednesday night’s wild-card game against the San Francisco Giants.

The raucous scene that awaits Volquez at PNC Park is in stark contrast to his ignominious exit from San Diego last summer, when the Padres released him after a stretch in which his earned-run average ballooned to 6.01.

“It’s kind of sad a little bit,” Volquez said. “You feel like your career is over.” He ended 2013 with the Dodgers, with whom he showed minor improvement before hitting the free-agent market.

Volquez found a home in Pittsburgh. Searage tweaked his delivery. Catcher Russell Martin worked with him to set a steady pace during games, often hustling to the mound when Volquez started working too quickly. When Volquez gets out of rhythm, his mechanics run amok.

Volquez responded by going 13-7 with a 3.04 ERA in a team-high 32 starts, the lone constant in a rotation that saw Liriano, Gerrit Cole and Charlie Morton spend significant time on the disabled list.

Now he faces a formidable task: beating a team that thrives this time of year. The Giants have captured two World Series this decade.

Most of the core that swept the Detroit Tigers in the Series two years ago remains intact, and it includes left-hander Madison Bumgarner. The 25-year-old is coming off a regular season in which he went 18-10 with a 2.98 ERA.