Shelton watches young talent win series against rival Reds | News, Sports, Jobs

Pittsburgh Pirates’ Bryan Reynolds (10) is greeted on the dugout steps by manager Derek Shelton, right, and hitting coach Andy Haines, left, after hitting a solo home run against Cincinnati Reds relief pitcher Nick Martinez in the eighth inning of a baseball game in Pittsburgh, Wednesday, June 19, 2024. The Pirates won 1-0. (AP Photo/Gene J. Puskar)

By Will Graves

The Associated Press

PITTSBURGH – Derek Shelton emerged from the dugout at sweltering PNC Park early in the eighth inning on Wednesday and trotted to the mound to take the ball from Mitch Keller.

The move was greeted with a few boos after Keller had spent most of the afternoon dominating the Reds with remarkable efficiency.

Keller, however, didn’t say a word after allowing a leadoff walk in a scoreless game. Sure, he had thrown 83 pitches in seven-plus innings, but with temperatures hovering around 95 degrees, it felt more like he’d thrown 150, Keller admitted.

So he didn’t plead his case. Nor was he necessary. Keller knows as well as anyone what lurks in the back of a bullpen that’s becoming increasingly dominant. Colin Holderman retired the next three batters and got out of the eighth inning unscathed.

Bryan Reynolds’ solo shot in the eighth inning gave the Pirates a 1-0 victory. David Bednar made his 16th save in a perfect ninth and Pittsburgh won two of three against the Reds in a series that offered a taste of what the team could become as spring transitions into summer.

The hit extended Reynolds’ hitting streak to 17 games, the longest by a Pirate since 2019. During the streak, he has a .357 batting average, with three home runs and 10 RBIs. The rebound comes at a time of year when Reynolds usually has everything under control. In June, he has a career batting average of .345.

“I guess I have a good story in June,” Reynolds said with a characteristic shrug. “So I’ll have to extend the month.”

In the Series opener, electrifying rookie Paul Skenes and three relievers held the Reds to one run in a win on Monday. Bailey Falter pitched seven solid innings in a hitless game on Tuesday. Keller, Holderman and Bednar limited the Reds to four baserunners, none of whom reached third base.

“I don’t know if we’ve ever pitched better than we have in this series,” Shelton said.

It’s becoming a habit. The shutout was the Pirates’ fourth in June. They’ve allowed four runs or fewer in 12 of their 17 games this month, thanks not only to a rotation featuring Skenes, Keller and Jared Jones, but also to a bullpen that’s slowly getting back on its feet after a slow start.

Not bad considering the Pirates are essentially missing a starter at the moment, with Marco Gonzales, Martin Perez and Quinn Priester all currently on the injured list.

“Everyone is in a good mood and working well together,” Keller said. “Everyone helps each other out, which is really cool to see. Here and there, you get a few little tidbits from someone. It’s really cool.”

While Skenes has a 4-0 record, a 2.29 ERA and 53 strikeouts in 39 1/3 innings in his seven starts – starts that increasingly feel like events in a city where the Pirates have largely played a supporting role over the past half-decade – he is far from alone.

Keller, who signed a $77 million contract extension in February after being an All-Star last season, is 6-1 with a 1.53 ERA since May 1. Falter’s ERA is 3.74, a full run below his career average. Bednar, who has been slowed by a lat injury that forced him to miss virtually all of spring training, has converted 10 saves since early May. Holderman has allowed just two runs in 26 appearances in a setup role.

Their emergence has helped the Pirates stay in the running of a disappointing NL Central despite an offense that struggles to score consistently. Pittsburgh ranks in the bottom third of the majors in most key offensive categories, including runs (22), home runs (23rd) and OPS (28th).

“Yeah, man, (the pitching helps) us a lot, especially today,” Reynolds said. “Mitch doesn’t have a chance until the eighth inning and then he just hands the ball off. Helps the offense a little bit. Takes a little pressure off.”

It helps to have a staff that has seemingly taken its ego out of the equation. There’s a free exchange of ideas — from the starters to the relievers — on everything from the order to pitch grips to tips for resting and recovering.

Keller makes it a point to tell Bednar regularly that he likes Bednar’s splitter to give him more confidence. Holderman has experimented with his sinker’s casting technique and is willing to try just about anything.

“There are a lot of smart people in this room,” Holderman said.

Guys who regularly give their opponents plenty to think about. Cincinnati manager David Bell watched as rising Reds star Hunter Greene shut out the Pirates in 6 1/3 masterful innings, only to be outplayed by Keller.

“I think Keller executed every single pitch he threw today perfectly,” Bell said. “Today was a tough day with Keller, Holderman and Bednar, they executed their pitches perfectly and they really have great stuff to do it.”

Pittsburgh plans to rely heavily on its personnel to gain traction and seriously contend for a postseason spot for the first time since 2015, when the club won 98 games.

This group is not the group that featured proven veterans like AJ Burnett and JA Happ with a young Gerrit Cole. The current Pirates are still under .500 on July 4th.

Still, there is an optimism in the clubhouse that has been missing for some time, and it is returning with impressive performances from the guys responsible for throwing the ball.

“We have a lot of guys here with good stuff,” Holderman said. “And as the season goes on, some guys who don’t have as much major league experience will get better, and I think our pitching will last pretty long into the season.”

Health report

Pirates: INF Alika Williams (wrist) activated from the injured list and sent to Triple-A Indianapolis.

Next

Reds: Welcome Boston to a three-game series that begins Friday.

Pirates: Host Tampa Bay for a three-game weekend series that begins Friday.