Pittsburgh Pirates: Returning Players, Bullpen Carry Team to Series Victory

PITTSBURGH, PA - JUNE 05: Sam Howard #54 of the Pittsburgh Pirates delivers a pitch in the seventh inning during the game against the Miami Marlins at PNC Park on June 5, 2021 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Justin Berl/Getty Images)
PITTSBURGH, PA - JUNE 05: Sam Howard #54 of the Pittsburgh Pirates delivers a pitch in the seventh inning during the game against the Miami Marlins at PNC Park on June 5, 2021 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Justin Berl/Getty Images)
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PITTSBURGH, PA – JUNE 04: Duane Underwood Jr. #56 of the Pittsburgh Pirates pitches during the third inning against the Miami Marlins at PNC Park on June 4, 2021 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Joe Sargent/Getty Images)
PITTSBURGH, PA – JUNE 04: Duane Underwood Jr. #56 of the Pittsburgh Pirates pitches during the third inning against the Miami Marlins at PNC Park on June 4, 2021 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Joe Sargent/Getty Images)

Another big series for the Pirate bullpen

Throughout the season the Pirate bullpen has been one of the best in the National League. This continued over the weekend against the Marlins and the bullpen was probably the biggest reason why the Pirates were able to win their four-game series against Miami.

Tyler Anderson started for the Pirates on Thursday night and pitched 5.1 strong innings. While Clay Holmes allowed both runners he inherited to score, those runs came on a pair of weekly hit ground balls that were placed properly. Holmes would strikeout a batter in a scoreless inning of work. Behind Holmes, Sam Howard, Kyle Crick and Richard Rodriguez combined to pitched 2.2 scoreless innings of work. This included Howard working out of a jam in the 7th inning that saw the Marlins put runners on second and third with just one out.

Friday night Mitch Keller pitched just 2 innings before getting pulled. Duane Underwood Jr., Chasen Shreve and Chris Stratton combined to strikeout 7 batters while allowing just 3 hits in 7 scoreless innings of work. It was the work of these three players that led the way for the Pittsburgh Pirates in their victory on Friday night.

Saturday afternoon the Pirate bullpen once again helped lead the way to victory. Howard pitched 2 scoreless innings and David Bednar pitched a scoreless 8th inning before Rodriguez allowed a run in the 9th. Crick then pitched 2 scoreless innings, allowing an unearned run due to the runner on second base rule, and Holmes pitched a scoreless 12th inning before the Pirates walked it off in the bottom of the 12th.

Even in Sunday’s loss, the Pirate bullpen stepped up for the Bucs. Making his 2021 debut after starting the season on the IL lefty Austin Davis pitched a 1-2-3 7th inning. rule 5 pick Luis Oviedo would go on to pic the 8th and 9th innings, striking out 4 in 2 scoreless innings of work.

Overall in the weekend series the Pirate bullpen pitched 20.2 innings. In these 20.2 innings of work Pirate relievers allowed just 1 earned run on 11 hits, 6 walks, 19 strikeouts and no home runs allowed. It was all hands on deck from the Pirate bullpen this weekend and everyone pitched well helping the Bucs secure a series victory.

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