Derek Shelton The Pittsburgh Pirates were hoping to conclude their series against the Chicago Cubs on a high note after struggling significantly in their earlier matchups. The series, which began with two disheartening defeats, appeared to take a turn for the better as the Pirates looked poised to secure a victory in the final game. However, their optimism was quickly dashed as the Cubs staged a dramatic comeback.
The Pirates’ woes began on Monday at PNC Park, where they suffered a crushing defeat, losing 18-8 to the Cubs. The game was marked by a complete breakdown in both offense and defense, as nothing seemed to go right for the Pirates. The following night, the situation did not improve. Although the Pirates initially took a 2-0 lead in the first inning, the Cubs responded aggressively, scoring nine unanswered runs to secure another dominant win.
By Wednesday, the Pirates had managed to build a comfortable lead, holding a seven-run advantage at the start of the seventh inning. The offense had been productive, giving the Pirates a commanding 10-3 lead. Despite this strong position, the bullpen faltered dramatically. The Cubs capitalized on the opportunity, scoring 11 unanswered runs, including a staggering six runs in the ninth inning. This late surge allowed Chicago to take and extend their first lead of the game, eventually winning 14-10.
Pirates manager Derek Shelton was blunt in his assessment of the game, expressing deep frustration with the team’s inability to close out the game. “It’s frustrating. It’s about as frustrated as I’ve been,” Shelton remarked. “We’ve got to execute. You cannot have a 10-3 game in the seventh inning and give up 11 runs. We’ve got to be better.” His comments reflected the gravity of the situation and the mounting pressure on the team to perform.
The game’s failure was largely attributed to the bullpen’s inability to hold the lead. Starter Paul Skenes pitched five innings, allowing three runs (two earned), but the four relievers who followed him were unable to contain the Cubs. Dennis Santana was the only reliever who did not allow any runs, but he only recorded two outs. Kyle Nicolas, Aroldis Chapman, and David Bednar all struggled, with Bednar particularly underperforming. Despite having a 10-8 lead in the ninth inning, Bednar and Jalen Beeks combined to give up six runs on six hits and two walks, leading to Bednar’s sixth blown save of the season.
Shelton was particularly critical of Bednar’s performance, noting a lack of command over his secondary pitches. “He had no command of the secondary stuff,” Shelton said. “Had to throw fastballs. I mean, we almost got out of it. Alika (Williams) made a hell of a play and we almost got out of it.” Shelton’s frustration was evident as he expressed disbelief at the team’s inability to protect a significant lead. “We had a 10-3 lead into the seventh. We have to cover the game,” he added.
The series against the Cubs, especially the final game, has been a significant blow to the Pirates’ season. It was less than a month ago that the Pirates had been active at the trade deadline, acquiring players in hopes of making a postseason push for the first time since 2015. Instead, their playoff hopes have all but vanished. Following the loss, the Pirates have fallen to last place in the National League Central and are now 10.5 games out of a wild card spot.
The series and the particularly dismal performance on Wednesday have marked a turning point in the season. Shelton’s frustration reflects the broader disappointment surrounding the team’s recent performances. “I don’t know about the last three (games), but today, it’s right up there,” Shelton said. “I don’t know if I’ve been as pi–ed as I am right now.”
As the Pirates look to salvage the remainder of the season, there is little left to cling to other than the hope of regaining some semblance of form. The brief glimmer of optimism from a recent win over the Cincinnati Reds, where Yasmani Grandal hit a walk-off home run, has been overshadowed by the team’s poor performance in the series against the Cubs. With the season’s end approaching, the Pirates are left to navigate the remainder of the games with the aim of regaining their footing and building towards a more promising future.
