The scoreboard doesn't always tell the whole story. If you just glanced at the Pittsburgh Pirates score from today, you might think it was just another Friday night at PNC Park, but anyone who actually sat through those middle innings knows it was a total rollercoaster. Baseball is weird like that. One minute you’re cruising behind a solid start, and the next, the bullpen is playing with fire and the fans are collectively holding their breath.
Honestly, the energy in the North Shore today was electric, mostly because the Buccos have been flirting with that .500 line for what feels like an eternity. People are checking their phones every five minutes for the latest updates. You’ve got the die-hards in the bleachers and the casual fans just there for the pierogi race, but everyone stopped what they were doing when the lead started to shrink in the top of the seventh.
Breaking Down the Pirates Score From Today
Let’s get into the weeds. It started out as a pitcher's duel. Mitch Keller was on the mound looking like the All-Star version of himself, painting the corners and keeping hitters off-balance with that sweeping slider that’s become his signature. He went six strong. Only gave up two hits. It looked like a lock. But baseball has a funny way of punishing you the moment you get comfortable.
The Pirates offense, which has been "hit or miss" lately—mostly miss if we’re being real—finally found some life against a struggling starter. Bryan Reynolds did what Bryan Reynolds does. He stayed short to the ball and laced a double down the line that scored two. It felt like the momentum was finally shifting toward Pittsburgh for good. You could hear the "Let's Go Bucs" chant echoing off the Allegheny.
Then the bullpen happened.
Why the Late Innings Mattered
When Keller came out, things got shaky. It’s the same old story we’ve seen a dozen times this season. The middle relief struggled to find the zone, walking the lead-off batter—which is basically a cardinal sin in a one-run game. Suddenly, the Pittsburgh Pirates score from today was under serious threat. The bases were loaded with one out, and you could feel the tension through the TV screen.
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David Bednar came in for the "Renegade" entrance, and man, the vibes changed instantly. Even if he’s had a rocky stretch recently, that music hitting just does something to the crowd. He’s the local kid. He’s the guy they want in that spot. He sat the first guy down on three straight heaters. High heat. 98 mph. You can’t teach that kind of guts.
- The Lead: Pittsburgh jumped out early with a 3-run fourth.
- The Scare: A two-run homer in the eighth made it a nail-biter.
- The Result: A narrow escape that keeps the Wild Card hopes (mostly) alive.
A Deeper Look at the Stats
If you look at the advanced analytics from today's game, the Expected Weighted On-Base Average (xwOBA) suggested the Pirates actually got a bit lucky. Some of those fly balls that stayed in the park would have been home runs in a place like Cincinnati or Yankee Stadium. But hey, PNC Park has that big 21-foot wall in right field for a reason. Roberto Clemente’s legacy literally protects the lead sometimes.
Ke'Bryan Hayes continues to be a vacuum at third base. He made a play in the fifth that most humans simply can't make. Barehand pick, off-balance throw, out by a step. If he doesn't make that play, the Pirates score from today looks a whole lot different. We take his defense for granted way too often. It's basically elite-level art at this point.
What This Means for the Standings
Look, we have to be realistic. The NL Central is a meat grinder this year. Every win feels like pulling teeth, and every loss feels like the end of the world. With this result, the Pirates stay within striking distance, but they’ve got a brutal road trip coming up. They can’t afford these late-inning collapses if they want to be playing meaningful baseball in September.
Derek Shelton has some tough decisions to make with the rotation. With injuries piling up, the depth is being tested. We saw some Triple-A call-ups today who looked a bit like deer in headlights, but that’s the big leagues. You either sink or swim. Today, they managed to tread water just long enough to get the handshake line going.
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- Batting Average with RISP: Still a concern, as they left way too many runners on.
- Bullpen ERA: Trending in the wrong direction despite the save.
- Home Attendance: Steady, proving Pittsburgh is still a baseball town at heart.
The Impact of the Trade Deadline
There’s been a ton of chatter about whether the front office is going to be buyers or sellers. Today's performance showed they have the pieces to compete, but they're missing that one big "bopper" in the middle of the lineup. One more power bat would change the entire geometry of the batting order. Until then, they’re going to have to scratch and claw for every single run.
The fan base is divided. Half the people on social media want to fire everyone and rebuild (again), while the other half thinks they're one winning streak away from a playoff run. Honestly? The truth is probably somewhere in the middle. They’re a scrappy team that plays up to their competition but also plays down to it. It’s frustrating. It’s exhausting. It’s Pirates baseball.
Actionable Takeaways for the Next Series
If you're following the team closely, don't just look at the box score. Watch how the young guys handle pressure.
Watch the Pitch Counts: Keller is throwing a lot of pitches early. If he can't get through seven innings consistently, the bullpen is going to be gassed by mid-August. That's a huge red flag.
Follow the Waiver Wire: There are rumors of a veteran lefty being available. The Pirates desperately need a southpaw who can get a strikeout in a pinch. If they don't move, expect more high-scoring losses.
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Check the Weather: Tomorrow’s forecast looks dicey. A rain delay could mess with the pitching matchups for the rest of the weekend.
Keep an eye on the injury report for Rowdy Tellez. He tweaked something running to first, and if he's out, the power numbers take a massive hit. The bench is thin as it is.
Next Steps for Fans:
- Check the updated NL Central standings to see the gap between Pittsburgh and the Cardinals.
- Monitor the velocity on David Bednar's four-seam fastball; if it's below 96, be worried.
- Look at the upcoming pitching probables—the next two guys are rookies making their third or fourth starts.
The season is a marathon, not a sprint, but these June and July games are where the identity of the team is forged. Today was a gritty win. It wasn't pretty. It wasn't perfect. But in the standings, a win is a win, regardless of how much it made your heart rate spike.