Pittsburgh Pirates: Young Bucs Shine and Other Takeaways From Sweeping the Padres
By Marty Leap
![Jun 29, 2023; Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA; Pittsburgh Pirates shortstop Nick Gonzales (39) and Jun 29, 2023; Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA; Pittsburgh Pirates shortstop Nick Gonzales (39) and](https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/upload/c_crop,w_4158,h_2338,x_0,y_184/c_fill,w_720,ar_16:9,f_auto,q_auto,g_auto/images/ImagnImages/mmsport/4/01h44zmc5rszr1qxmv02.jpg)
Young Bucs shining and a big bounce back series from the bullpen help to carry the Pittsburgh Pirates to a sweep of the San Diego Padres
Tuesday night the Pittsburgh Pirates started a six-game homestand that felt like a bit of a crossroads. Losers of 12 of 13 games to plummet from first place in the NL Central to 4th place, it felt like this homestand could be a bit of a final stand for the 2023 Pittsburgh Baseball Club.
To their credit, through the first series of the homestand the Pittsburgh Pirates have answered in a big way.
The Pirates swept the San Diego Padres in their three-game series, the first series of the season between the two clubs. With the series sweep, the Pirates are now 38-42 overall on the season which puts them in third place in the NL Central 4.5 games out of first place. Additionally, they are now 11-12-1 in the 24 series they have played this season.
Before looking ahead to a big series this weekend against a divisional foe in the Milwaukee Brewers, let's take a look back at the Pirates sweeping the Padres. Here are takeaways from the Bucs sweeping the Friars.