SAN DIEGO -- The Pirates came into Petco Park knowing this was a Padres team potentially playing for their season. They may have underachieved to this point in the season, but they have as much star power as any team. Going off of national reports, this series was going to play a role of if they approach the trade deadline as buyers or sellers.
As David Bednar slapped Endy Rodríguez's hand coming off the mound, the sigh of relief was in the visitor's clubhouse. With a 3-2 win over the Padres Wednesday, the Pirates will leave here with a series win.
It has been a taxing month of July, and this was the team's first series win of the month. So while a .500 road trip may not seem all that noteworthy, they did play noticeably better ball.
So how did they pull off the win Wednesday?
"Teamwork," Johan Oviedo answered. "Every time we go out there, we’re trying to give our 100% so can win the game. The vibe is always really good around the clubhouse, even during the game. We’re just trying to keep it up."
Let's dive deeper into those parts that made it possible:
OVIEDO'S SIGH OF RELIEF
It had been a minute since Oviedo last got a win. We can argue the importance of the pitcher win anymore and point out that he's had some good and bad starts these past two months, but Wednesday was the first time he got credited with the win since May 19.
"It means a lot, but my goal, besides the result, is just try to give the team a chance to win the ballgame," Oviedo said. "That’s what I did today."
And while he was able to go six innings of one-run ball, he hurt himself early and often out of the gate. Not necessarily because he was leaving the ball over the plate. It was because he kept getting hit with pitch clock violations for coming set too soon. He was over eager and was charged with three automatic balls in the first inning alone. Entering the game, he had been charged with just four automatic balls.
Deep breath, relax, and slow down. The four-seamer was going to play. Rhythm is important for Oviedo's success, and he was able to find that right pace despite not starting the way he wanted to.
"Every time I go out there, I feel like it’s me against me because of the way that I think and take things personally," Oviedo said. "If I would get mad about all those balls that I got, it would be like L.A. [his last start against the Angels]. I would have gotten out of control. Just trying to not let that happen two games in a row."
THE RENEGADE'S DECISION
For the second straight time out, Bednar was shakier than usual, loading the bases with only one out. The Padres went for blood in that spot, bringing in Juan Soto as a pinch-hitter.
And Bednar wanted no part of him:
This isn't quite walking Barry Bonds intentionally with the bases juiced, but it does look like the unintentional-intentional walk, which Bednar himself more or less confirmed it.
"I wouldn't say on purpose," Bednar said. "I just wasn't going to give in and let him beat me. With the two runs and there was a big homer in the ninth, just being aggressive and trusting my stuff and knowing that you can get the next two guys. I wasn't going to let him beat me."
It ended up working out. Taylor Kohlwey fouled out to third baseman Jared Triolo and then Trent Grisham struck out to end the game. A big sigh of relief came soon after.
You have to wonder exactly how many relievers would have the guts to do something like that. The go-ahead run was put into scoring position, so all it would take is a bloop or a flare for the Pirates to potentially lose.
It's like you have to be an All-Star closer to even consider a gambit like that.
“He’s so calm, cool and collected," Colin Holderman would tell me. "His highs aren’t too high, his lows aren’t too low, and that’s when you need that.”
AND AT FIRST... FOR HOW LONG?
You know who has been preaching about teamwork and a team mindset more than anyone in that clubhouse? Carlos Santana.
And you know that run Bednar had to play with in the ninth? That came after a ninth inning Santana shot to right, joining Bryan Reynolds and Ji-Man Choi in the home run party Wednesday:
"He’s been unbelievable," said Don Kelly, who was filling in as the acting manager for the suspended Derek Shelton. "I can’t say enough good things about him, his presence, the way he goes about it every single day, the way he works at-bats, then you guys see what he does on the field. But just his overall demeanor and the way he carries himself and prepares and competes, it’s been great."
Santana was targeted this offseason this offseason largely due to that veteran presence. All year, young Latin players in particular have gravitated to him, wanting to learn what it takes to become a big-leaguer.
"I feel like we've just got to do one thing, and that's listen [to Santana] and then we'll go from there," Liover Peguero said Monday. "We've got a long way to keep learning stuff."
We may also be nearing the end of Santana's time in Pittsburgh. The trade deadline is Tuesday, and veterans on expiring contracts on teams with losing records are almost always going to be discussed. The Pirates haven't shied away from trading their offseason acquisitions at the deadline the last two years, sending Tyler Anderson and José Quintana away for young players. One of those players was Oviedo, but the clubhouse last year sorely missed Quintana and finished with an ugly, listless two month slump.
So why trade him? Assuming Ji-Man Choi is also on the market, the Pirates don't have a clear answer at first to replace him since Malcom Nunez has struggled in the minors (and is currently on a rehab assignment for his shoulder injury). You still need leadership, perhaps now more than ever since this team has brought up so many rookies of late.
“Honestly, I don’t think about that," Santana was telling me about the approaching trade deadline. "If it comes it’s fine. If it doesn’t come, it’s fine. I love Pittsburgh, this organization. It’s been really comfortable. If something happens, I cannot control it. For me, my mentality is to play hard everyday, prepare and help my team.”
If Andrew McCutchen can get the exemption from the trade deadline, why not Santana? Stress teamwork and keep the guy who is leading that charge.
THE ESSENTIALS
• Boxscore
• Live file
• Team feed
• Standings
• Statistics
• Schedule
• Scoreboard
THE HIGHLIGHTS
THE INJURIES
• 10-day injured list: 2B Ji Hwan Bae (ankle), 3B Ke'Bryan Hayes (lower back)
• 60-day injured list: SS Oneil Cruz (ankle), RHP JT Brubaker (elbow), LHP Jarlin Garcia (elbow), RHP Max Kranick (elbow), RHP Vince Velasquez (elbow)
THE LINEUPS
Shelton's card:
1. Jack Suwinski, CF
2. Bryan Reynolds, LF
3. Carlos Santana, DH
4. Ji-Man Choi, 1B
5. Henry Davis, RF
6. Endy Rodríguez, C
7. Jared Triolo, 3B
8. Nick Gonzales, 2B
9. Alika Wililams, SS
And for Bob Melvin's Padres:
1. Ha-Seong Kim, 2B
2. Fernando Tatis Jr., RF
3. Manny Machado, 3B
4. Xander Bogaerts, SS
5. Luis Campusano, C
6. Jake Cronenworth, 1B
7. Gary Sánchez, DH
8. Taylor Kohlwey, 1B
9. Trent Grisham, CF
THE SCHEDULE
That's it for the west coast the season. The Pirates are off Thursday and will pick up at home with Mitch Keller (9-6, 4.01) Friday against the Phillies. DK will have you covered.
THE ODDS
Anyone interested in the gambling perspective on this weekend's series, be sure to check out the following betting apps that've partnered with us.
THE MULTIMEDIA
THE CONTENT
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