Biertempfel: Adversity helped Taillon's bond with Cole grow stronger

CHICAGO — Jameson Taillon and Gerrit Cole rented a house together the past couple of years during spring training. At first glance, they might seem unlikely roommates.

Cole is a cool California kid with a fierce demeanor on the mound. Taillon is a clean-shaven Texan who spends his free time at fishing holes. Yet, they have much in common and have become good friends.

“We've talked for a long time about pitching together,” Taillon said.

It was a bit ironic, then, that Taillon's second stint with the Pirates — the one that likely will cement his spot in the starting rotation for at least the next six seasons — came at Cole's expense.

When Cole went on the disabled list with a sore right triceps, Taillon got a sooner-than-planned recall from Triple-A Indianapolis.

“Those are big shoes to fill,” Taillon said. “The circumstances are unfortunate, but I'll do the best I can. Baseball is weird. The world is weird. You've got to take opportunities when you get them.”

Taillon did just that Tuesday night, when he no-hit the New York Mets for six innings and notched his first major league victory.

According to Elias Sports Bureau, it was just the third time since 1893 that a Pirates pitcher worked eight scoreless innings and gave up no more than two hits in his second MLB outing.

“It was unbelievable to watch,” Cole said. “I would like to say there was nobody as excited about it as I was, but he probably was more excited. But I was pretty damn close.”

Cole has a unique perspective on what Taillon is experiencing as he settles in with the Pirates.

Both pitchers were drafted in the first round. Cole was taken first overall in 2011, Taillon was the No. 2 pick in 2010. Taillon's arrival in the majors was delayed for two years by Tommy John surgery.

“To go through what he's gone through … I don't even know if I would've come out as successful as he did,” Cole said. “That's something to be celebrated. It's something not to be taken for granted.”

Cole's draft class included Jose Fernandez, Francisco Lindor, George Springer and Sonny Gray. There's a lot of hype and pressure that comes with being the top choice among those guys.

There were some big names in Taillon's group, too.

“Being sandwiched between (first overall pick) Bryce Harper and (No. 3 pick) Manny Machado, it doesn't get more pressure-packed than that,” Cole said.

Harper broke in with the Washington Nationals in 2012 and last season was named National League MVP. Machado also debuted in 2012 and is a two-time All-Star.

“You'd be naive not to notice,” Taillon said. “I know what they're doing. I've kept my self-confidence and belief that I'd get up here and do just fine. I'm sure people on social media have talked their smack about it. But it's kind of exhausting to live your life worrying about that stuff, so I don't do it.”

That had to make Taillon's sudden-impact masterpiece against the Mets even more satisfying.

“The little celebration we did after it was very fitting for the night he had and for the road he's had to walk,” Cole said.

In the clubhouse after the game, Cole and his collaborators grabbed several beverages out of a cooler in the players' lounge, then corralled Taillon in the showers.

“We didn't want to get the carpet wet,” Cole explained with a grin.

Taillon already was soaked from his postgame Gatorade shower on the field, so he didn't mind being doused with beer.

With reliever Jared Hughes laying down a solid baritone line, Taillon (who has dual American-Canandian citizenship) was serenaded with a chorus of “O Canada.”

“They knew the lyrics,” Taillon said.

Really? All of the lyrics?

“There's not a lot of different words,” Cole said. “There's a lot of Canadas. You don't need a lot of range to sing that song, either. It's not as challenging as our national anthem. When you watch a Toronto (Blue Jays) game, you hear it. And hockey games. You pick it up along the way. If you don't know the words, you can jump in every time you say, ‘Canada.' ”

Just another amazing moment of what should be a long career for Taillon in the major leagues: two dozen giddy ballplayers belting out the national anthem of the Great White North while clustered in a bathroom in Queens, New York.

“Anything sounds good in there,” pitcher Jeff Locke said. “Great acoustics.”

Rob Biertempfel is a Tribune-Review staff writer. Reach him at rbiertempfel@tribweb.com or via Twitter @BiertempfelTrib.