Pirates Series Takeaways: Bullpen Again, Griffin Returns, Gauntlet Looms

PITTSBURGH — Well, the Pirates were at least able to salvage their weekend series with the Reds on Sunday. But Pittsburgh had no business losing that series, and they could’ve won all three games.

I’ll spare going into too much detail about the bullpen. We all know. I wrote a much bigger piece on the continuing bullpen struggles, which you can read here.

The Pirates came back from being down three runs on Friday night to tie the game, but Mason Montgomery allowed a two-run home run in the eighth inning to Noelvi Marte for a 6-4 Reds’ win.

On Saturday, the Pirates took a one-run lead into the ninth inning and were one pitch away from winning, but closer Gregory Soto blew the team’s 17th save of the season by surrendering a game-winning three-run home run to Eugenio Suárez.

“We’ve got to get better,” manager Don Kelly said after Saturday’s loss. “Games like that, we have to find a way to win them.”

The series loss to the Reds capped off a 3-3 homestand, as the Pirates continue to hover around the .500 mark without an ability to put together a lengthier winning streak.

The bullpen struggles continue and were at the center of this series with the Reds. But there are a couple more takeaways following a three-day stretch against their division counterparts.

Getting Griffin Back

The best news for the Pirates over the weekend was getting shortstop Konnor Griffin back from the injured list. The 20-year-old was placed on the 10-day IL with a right forearm strain on May 31 before returning on Friday.

Griffin wasted no time making his presence known. In the opening game of the series, he blasted a leadoff home run off left-hander Andrew Abbott into the second deck in left field.

“Being the leadoff guy, I just wanted to get a good swing off on a good pitch and saw a fastball up and just attacked it.” he said following the game.

The Pirates gave Griffin a scheduled day off in the second game of series. There will be rest days for the rookie phenom coming off the injury that he had. But he started at short in the other two games and combined to go 3 for 9 with a home run and reached base four times.

With Spencer Horwitz and Oneil Cruz on the injured list for what’s expected to be a few weeks, the Pirates are thrilled to have their five-tool player back on the field.

“To have him back at short, just the way that (he plays) shortstop, the impact on the bases, the impact at the plate. To have him back in the lineup is a big plus for us,” said manager Don Kelly.

Turning the Page

Yes, it was a tough series for the Pirates, but salvaging the final game at least provides a happier flight, and Pittsburgh will need good vibes as they begin a gauntlet stretch of their schedule.

Pittsburgh heads to Philadelphia for four games, followed by three more against the Nationals to close the road trip. It’s the start of 22 straight games against teams over .500.

“It doesn’t change anything, how we prepare, how we go about things, anything like that,” said Brandon Lowe.

Lowe is right. The Pirates are preparing to win every single game, no matter who the opponent is. But this four-week stretch is a crucial one. The next 22 games — more than half of which will come without the injured Cruz and Horwitz — takes the Pirates to just one week before the trade deadline.

The Pirates, right now, are in position to buy with a .500 record, a relatively good spot in the playoff hunt, and a general manager fighting for his job.

But if the Pirates don’t compete during this stretch, it creates an interesting dilemma in the offices located on 115 Federal St.

Before the time comes for any major decisions, the Pirates will take things day by day to try and stay in position to add to the club instead of subtract.

“We can’t get too far ahead of ourselves,” said Kelly. “We just need to take it one step at a time and dominate each day.”

It’s time for the Pirates to show whether or not they are for real.

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