The 2023 MLB season ended on Sunday afternoon for 18 teams, one of them being the Pittsburgh Pirates. Pittsburgh would finish the year with a 3-0 victory over the playoff bound Miami Marlins. Solid pitching for the Pirates, along with some timely hits late in the game were the keys to victory.
All three runs in the game were scored in the bottom of the eighth inning. Miguel Andujar started things off with an RBI double to left center to score Connor Joe. Jack Suwinski then doubled to left to bring around Joshua Palacios and Jared Triolo.
Andre Jackson worked four innings for Pittsburgh and gave up just one hit to go along with two strikeouts and one walk. Osvaldo Bido covered the fifth and sixth inning, also allowing one hit and striking out a pair of batters. The seventh belonged to Kyle Nicolas and he allowed one hit with two strikeouts during that time. Dauri Moreta collected his fifth win of the year after striking out the side in the eighth, and David Bednar earned his 39th save of the season, striking out two batters.
Miami would send Ryan Weathers to the bump for the first six innings. During that time, he would strikeout five, walk three and allow two hits. Huascar Brazoban pitched the seventh, allowing one hit to go with three strikeouts. The loss would go to Bryan Hoeing who gave up three runs on three hits with two walks and one strikeout in the eighth.
There are still many questions surrounding this Pirates team as they head into 2024. For me the biggest is the starting rotation and bullpen, aside from Bednar. If they can also get more consistent play from the starting nine, stay healthy, and see the top prospects show they can handle the pressure of the big leagues, maybe we will be talking playoffs this time next year.
Record vs. Marlins: 2-5
Record vs. N.L. East: 16-17
Record at Home: 39-42
Overall Record: 76-86
And…
As Always…
Let’s Go Bucs!
