Pittsburgh Pirates: Struggles Against the Cubs Continue, More Takeaways From Being Swept at Wrigley

Terrible series for the bullpen

For much of the season the bullpen has been a big strength for the Pirates. Against the Cubs, however, the bullpen was anything but a strength. Fittingly since this may have been the worst series the Pirates played all season, the bullpen had their worst series of the season as well.

In the series opening loss, the Pirate bullpen let the game slip away. Dauri Moreta failed to strand inheirted runners, something he has done so well this season, and then Yohan Ramirez allowed 4 runs while recoridng just one out. Rob Zastryzny pitched the final 1.2 innings of the night, allowing 3 more runs in the process.

In game two the bullpen was handed a 5-1 lead. After Roansy Contreras pitched a 1-2-3 5th inning things came completely unglued in the 6th inning. Contreras seemed to completely lose it on the mound allowing 5 runs in the 6th. Ramirez had another poor outing. He failed to strand runners, made a very poor defensive play, and allowed a run of his own.

After Angel Perdomo pitched a scoreless 7th inning, Colin Holderman allowed 3 runs on four hits and a walk while getting just two outs in the 8th. The struggling Holderman was then placed on the injured list following the outing.

Game three saw the bullpen melt down yet again.

Jose Hernandez took over for Johan Oviedo with the game tied. The only out Hernandez would record came via a sacrfice bunt that scored a run. He allowed both runners he inherited to score, while allowing 2 runs of his own on two hits and a walk. While Perdomo and Zastryzny would pitch scoreless innings of relief, Yerry De Los Santos allowed a run in 1.1 innings pitched.

The Pirate bullpen was the main reason they lost game two of the series and an argument can be made they were the main culprit in game three as well. Just an all around awful, awful series for the Pirate releif corp.