3 TAKEAWAYS FROM THE PITTSBURGH PIRATES SERIES VICTORY IN D.C.

3 TAKEAWAYS FROM THE PITTSBURGH PIRATES SERIES VICTORY IN D.C.

What did we learn about the Pittsburgh Pirates in their hard fought series victory over the Washington Nationals this past weekend?

This past weekend was a successful one for the Pittsburgh Pirates. In their first series of the season that was not against a National League Central Division foe, the Bucs traveled to the nation’s capital to play the Washington Nationals. Following an extra innings victory on Friday night and a hard fought one run victory on Sunday afternoon, the Pirates took two of three from the Nats over the weekend. These victories improved the Pirates record to 8-6 this season, and gave the team their first series victory in Washington since 2013.

Earning a series victory in the nation’s capital did not come easy for the Pirates. But, in life, often times anything worth having does not come easy. How hard the team had to fight over the weekend made the series victory a little extra enjoyable.

Following the series victory over the Nats the Bucs are now 2-2-1 in their five series played this season. On their way to taking two of three from the Nats, the team did a little bit of everything over the weekend. So, what are three takeaways from the Pirates series victory at Nationals Park?

THE BULLPEN IS STILL SCUFFLING

We will start with the negative to get it out of the way quickly.

Entering the season the bullpen was expected to be a strength for the Pittsburgh Pirates. A big reason for this was set up men Keone Kela and Richard Rodriguez. Well, over the weekend the early season struggles of both Kela and Rodriguez continued.

Kela’s lone appearance in the series came on Friday night. With the Bucs leading 3-2 in the bottom of the 8th inning Kela was given the ball. He retired three of the four batters he faced, but the lone base runner he allowed came in the form of a game-tying solo home run by Anthony Rendon.

In 5 2/3 innings pitched this season Kela has now issued three walks and he has allowed three home runs. In 2018, Kela allowed just five home runs all season (52 innings pitched).

As for Rodriguez, on Friday night he inherited a runner on third with just one out situation in the bottom of the 7th inning. He stranded the runner, and ran his scoreless outing streak up to five consecutive games. However, Saturday did not go as well for Rich Rod.

With Kela being given the day off, Rodriguez was tabbed to pitch the 8th inning with the Pirates leading 2-1. After retiring the first two batters of the inning Rodriguez allowed back-to-back home runs. This led to a 3-2 Nationals victory.

Like Kela, the home run ball has been an issue for Rodriguez this season. After allowing just five home runs in 69 1/3 innings pitched in 2018, Rodriguez has already been taken deep four times in 6 2/3 innings of work this season. Not coincidentally, the Pirates are 0-3 this season in games that Rodriguez has allowed a home run.

The bullpen can still be a strength for the Pirates. Closer Felipe Vazquez has looked as good as ever this season, and Nick Burdi is emerging as a high leverage situation option. Additionally, the team could get Kyle Crick back from the injured list as soon as Tuesday.

That said the Bucs still need Kela and Rodriguez to get back on track. Especially Kela, who, when he is right, is a dominant reliever. There is a reason the team paid such a hefty price to acquire him from the Texas Rangers last July.

Josh Bell and Colin Moran may be turning a corner

One of the biggest positives of the first five series of the season has been the play of Josh Bell and Colin Moran. In order for the Pirates to return to the postseason it was vital that both players take the next step as hitters in 2019. So far, both have.

Bell’s hot start comes after a good four month stretch to finish 2018. From June 1st through the end of the season he slashed .267/.378/.422 with a .155 ISO and a 122 wRC+. The biggest difference so far this season has been the power.

60 plate appearances into the season Bell is slashing .314/.390/.627 with a .314 ISO and a 157 wRC+. Additionally, his extra base hit rate is a career best 16.9%. If Bell continues to hit this way, the Pirate lineup will be a lot more fierce than many expected this season.

Joining Bell on the breakout train so far this season is Moran. After losing the third base job to Jung Ho Kang in spring training, Moran has bounced back and capitalized on Kang’s slow start to the 2019 season.

Moran is slashing .308/.400/.615 with a .308 ISO and a 157 wRC+ 30 plate appearances into the season. Like Bell, Moran’s hot start comes after a strong finish to the 2018 season. During the final six weeks of the 2018 campaign Moran slashed .321/.375/.513 with a .192 ISO and a wRC+ of 137.

Due to the way they finished their 2018 campaigns there is reason to believe that Bell and Moran’s hot starts may be them turning the corner as hitters. If this proves to be true, then that will go a long way toward catapulting the 2019 Pirates into contention.

THIS TEAM CONTINUES TO SHOW THEIR HEART AND FIGHT

Friday night the Pirates scratched a run across the board in the top of the 8th inning to take a 3-2 lead. After the Nationals tied the game in the bottom of the 8th, the Bucs were able to win it in the 10th when a three-run rally was capped off by a pinch hit home run by Moran.

On Sunday, the Bucs rallied again late. With the game tied in the 9th inning Jason Martin came through with a go-ahead double that scored Bell. This gave the team a 4-3 lead they would not relinquish.

The 2019 edition of the Pirates have been the battling Bucs thus far. A lot of the credit for this falls at the feet of manager Clint Hurdle and his coaching staff. Typically when a sports team is a group of fighters like this one has been it stems from the culture created by the coaching staff.