Pittsburgh Pirates: Newcomers Impress, More Takeaways From Series Split in Milwaukee

Up and down series for the bullpen

Earlier this week I wrote about the implosion of the Pirate pitching staff since the end of April. This has included both the starting rotation and the bullpen. Against the Brewers, it was an up and down series for Pirate relievers.

In Thursday's 14-1 series opening loss Jose Hernandez allowed 3 runs in the 6th inning, Dauri Moreta then followed by allowing 3 runs of his on in the 7th inning. Few Pirate relievers, if any, have regressed more following a strong April than Hernandez and Moreta.

For the most part, the bullpen pitched well in a game two victory. However, Carmen Mlodzinski allowed a run while stranding the bases loaded in the 7th inning. But Yerry De Los Santos, Ryan Borucki, Colin Holderman, and David Bednar all posted zeroes.

Saturday night David Bednar was handed a 2-1 lead in the 9th inning. Bednar allowed a lead off single, and following a wild pitch that runner was able to score on a one-out single by Sal Frelick to tie the game. Angel Perdomo took the ball in the 10th inning, and after issuing a pair of intentional walks surrendered a walk off single to Blake Perkins. Even though Perdomo was given the call to issue a pair of intentional walks and had to deal with the extra innings runner starting on second base, he was all over the place with his control and never looked comfortable on the mound.

After Johan Oviedo pitched 7 scoreless innings on Sunday, Holderman made quick work of the Brewers in a scoreless 8th inning. A Ke'Bryan Hayes error led to Mlodzinski allowing an unearned run in the 9th inning on Sunday, but he was still able to close the door in the victory.