Pittsburgh Pirates: Bullpen Struggles in Series Loss in Milwaukee

Struggles from the bullpen played a large role in the Pittsburgh Pirates losing their three-game series in Milwaukee against the Brewers

While the 2021 season has been a struggle for the Pittsburgh Pirates one area that has been a strength more times than not this season ha been the Pirate bullpen. However, in their three-game series against the Milwaukee Brewers this was not the case.

During their series against the Brewers the bullpen struggled for the Pittsburgh Pirates. This would prove to play a large role in the Pirates losing the series. This came following a 4-2 Pirate loss in Wednesday afternoon’s rubber match against the Brewers.

The Pirate bullpen pitched 13 innings in this three-game series. In those 13 innings of work Pirate relievers allowed 10 earned runs on 13 hits, 2 home runs, 7 walks and 10 strikeouts. This comes out to an ERA for the series of 11.70.

In Monday night’s series-opening loss the bullpen inherited a game that the Pittsburgh Pirates trailed just 1-0. Kyle Keller walked 3 batters and allowed a hit on his way to being tagged with 2 earned runs. In just 2/3 innings pitched, Nick Mears allowed 3 earned runs on 2 hits, a walk Dana home run. Making his MLB debut, Shea Spitzbarth, one of the few highlights for the bullpen in the series, pitched 1.1 scoreless innings.

During the series Spitzbarth faced 11 batters allowing 3 hits and walking a batter. While he did not record a strikeout he still pitched 2.1 scoreless innings in his first taste of MLB action. Following Wednesday afternoon’s series finale, Spatzbarth was optioned back to Triple-A for the recently claimed Anthony Banda.

Even thought the Pirates were victorious on Tuesday night, the bullpen still took its lumps. Duane Underwood Jr. allowed a run on 2 hits in 2 innings of work. Chasen Shreve put a batter on in his 2/3 of an inning pitcher and Chris Stratton failed to strand him.

David Bednar was the lone bright spot for the Pittsburgh Pirates out of the bullpen on Tuesday night. With the help of a home run stealing grab by Gregory Polanco he retired the Brewers in order in the bottom of the 9th. He then did the same in the bottom fo the 10th, while recording two strikeouts, on his way to slamming the door shut on the Brewers in a 8-5 Pirate victory.

In Wednesday afternoon’s series finale Steven Brault started and pitched 4 strong innings, allowing just 1 run. Cody Ponce followed this with 2 scoreless innings. At this point, the wheels fell off for the Pirate bullpen.

In a surprising move Derek Shelton went to Keller with the Pirates leading by a run. Keller recorded  two outs in the 7th inning, but he also put a pair of runners of base. Keller was relieved by Shreve who allowed a 3-run home run to Rowdy Tellez. Following the Tellez bomb, the Brewers led 4-2 which went on to be the final.

Entering a four-game series against the Cincinnati Reds the Pittsburgh Pirates will need their bullpen to better. If they repeat their performance against the Brewers, it could be a long weekend for the Bucs.