Pittsburgh Pirates: String of Series Victories Ends in Atlanta
Recapping Pittsburgh's series loss in Atlanta
![Sep 10, 2023; Cumberland, Georgia, USA; Pittsburgh Pirates starting pitcher Luis Ortiz (48) gets](https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/upload/c_crop,w_4984,h_2803,x_0,y_107/c_fill,w_752,ar_16:9,f_auto,q_auto,g_auto/images/ImagnImages/mmsport/4/01ha0jjkgjwchwmxytgx.jpg)
The Pittsburgh Pirates were on the brink of their fourth consecutive series victory, but failed to put the Atlanta Braves away on Sunday afternoon
In recent weeks, the Pittsburgh Pirates had been playing better baseball. This included three straight seriews victories for the Bucs. Sunday afternoon in Atlanta, they were looking for their fourth consecutive series victory.
After splitting their first two games in Atlanta, the Pirates fell to the Braves on Sunday afternoon. Their 5-2 loss came in a game they led 2-1 in the 7th. With the loss, the Pirates dropped their series in Atlanta.
The series loss dropped the Pirates to 17-23-4 in series played this season. Overall, the Pirates are now 66-77. This 66-77 record puts the Pirates in fourth place in the National League Central, 3.0 games ahead of the last place St. Louis Cardinals.
Need for starting pitching shines through
Starting pitching continues to plague the Pirates. Mitch Keller pitched 5 innings on Friday night but allowed 8 earned runs. This was also the third consecutive start in which Keller's velocity was down for his four-seamed fastball, sinker, and cutter.
Johan Oviedo failed to get out of the 4th inning on Saturday night. He also had a brush up with Ronald Acuña Jr. over an inside fastball that led to the benches clearing. This made back-to-back poor starts for Oviedo since his compelte game shutout in Kansas City.
Sunday afternoon, Luis Ortiz took the ball for the Pirates looking to secure a series victory. Even though he failed to record a strikeout, Ortiz still did his part to help sew up a series win. Ortiz allowed just 1 run on three hits and two walks in 5.1 innings pitched.
Finding more starting pitching needs to be the team's top priority this offseason. Keller and Oviedo will be in the Opening Day rotation next season, but everything after those two is a massive question mark. Plus, the Pirates do not have a true no. 1 starter in either of those two.
Big series for Bryan Reynolds
The 2023 season has not always been an easy one for Bryan Reynolds. However, he is finishing the season on a high note. Following a big series in Atlanta, Reynolds now owns an 11-game hitting streak and is trending upward.
Going up against the team he grew up rooting for, Reynolds went 6-for-13 in the series. He hit a game-winning home run in Saturday's victory, to go with two doubles, three RBI, and three runs scored.
Chipper Jones is the reason that Reynolds wears number 10. So, having a big series against the Braves in Atlanta had to feel good for Reynolds. It also continued his recent hot streak as he looks to finish what has been the worst non-COVID season of his career on a high note.
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