There are many heroes to talk about in Pittsburgh’s 4-2 defeat of the Chicago White Sox. The team moved back to .500 and within 4.5 games of the Arizona Diamondbacks for the last wildcard spot. From Esmerlyn Valdez powering the offense, to Jared Triolo defensive heroics, to Yohan Ramirez saving the lead when the game was hanging in the balance, this was a rare complete team effort where everything clicked and the Pirates looked like a machine. This is what the Pirates need to do over the next 2 and a half weeks if they want Buctober to be a reality. Watch Jim and I break the game down in further detail here:
Herculean Effort From the Bullpen
The Pirates have gotten better as a pitching staff since Mitch Keller went down with a season-ending injury. The main reason for this has been the excellence that the bullpen has displayed since being asked to become the 5th starter. Tonight was no exception, where the Pirates got an excellent 9-inning 2-run ball from almost the entire bullpen. While Luke Weaver and Camilo Doval had their issues, the rest of the pen looked elite. Even Brandon Eisert turned up against his former team, as he pitched possibly the best 2.1 innings of his life tonight. He generated 9 whiffs and struck out 5 of 7 batters faced. Mason Montgomery looked at his normal self, shutting down the 9th in order. Yohan Ramirez came in and saved the game by inducing a double play that kept the Pirates’ lead in the 7th. It was a collective effort, and it was genuinely fun to watch.
A Healthy Konnor Griffin Has This Team in a Playoff Spot
Konnor Griffin is not a superstar yet, but he is well on his way to being one. Griffin’s combination of hitting, speed, and defense alone raises the floor of this team so highly it’s genuinely worth several wins. Tonight he knocks in the 2 necessary runs to give the Pirates a 4-0 lead. He only gets one hit, but he steals 2 bases, gets on base twice, and is a steady hand at the shortstop position. He makes everyone around him better, which is quite the feat for someone who is barely 20 years old. It’s hard to not think about where this team could be in Griffin, who was healthy from mid-July through August, when the team was really slipping. Instead of trotting out Jacob Gonzalez or Jared Triolo every day, the Pirates have a rookie who is already a 4-WAR player right from the start of his career. I love watching Konnor Griffin play this sport.
Sam Antonacci Needs to Chill Out
Sam Antonacci decided to get the benches cleared after trying to elbow Brandon Lowe during the double play that ended the 7th inning. Brandon Lowe tried to walk off the field and Antonacci had words for him. It was hilarious to see him act all big and tough until Oneil Cruz got near him and suddenly he started to back away. It was a weird situation that didn’t need the benches cleared at all. You can go in for a hard slide without trying to Charlie Horse the 2nd baseman. Antonacci doubled downed on his antics in his postgame interview as well. He should’ve made more of an effort to drive runs in instead of trying to start fights with a National League Central team in early September.
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