Palacios' heroics, Bednar's grit push winning streak to five, vibes sky high

ST. LOUIS -- As David Bednar watched from the Pirates' bullpen in the top of the ninth with his team down a run, a thought crossed his mind as Josh Palacios came to the plate as a pinch-hitter.

"Ok, it's time to get going."

One day after being a late scratch because of a sore left wrist, Palacios gave Derek Shelton the green light to use him pregame. In the ninth, Shelton called his number, and Palacios delivered the hit of the night on a low and inside Drew VerHagen four-seamer:

That two-run shot, plus a dramatic finish in the home half of the inning, was enough to complete the Pirates' comeback over the Cardinals at Busch Stadium Saturday, edging them out, 7-6, to push their winning streak to five.

"He just has that feel, man. It's unbelievable," Bednar said about Palacios. "It seems like every time in the eighth or ninth when he comes up in a big spot, he delivers."

Bednar isn't that far off. Leading up to that home run, Palacios was hitting just .210 with a .628 OPS. Palacios hadn't recorded a hit in the majors on a pitch on that low, inside corner. He was x-rayed to see if he had any structural damage in his wrist just a day before. (There obviously wasn't any).

And yet, that combination led to a home run. That's just kind of the way it is with Palacios. Despite the below average season numbers, he's shined in the biggest spots, hitting .313 (10-for-32) with three home runs in what Baseball-Reference qualifies as late and close situations.

"He likes the lights," Derek Shelton said. "I think that goes to his personality a little bit."

"The environment, the lights, people screaming. It feels normal," Palacios said. "It feels more like home. It’s feels like New York City. Lets me be relaxed a little bit and lock in on my process."

Palacios gave the Pirates the lead, but the real drama was saved for the bottom of the ninth. After a ground ball single, a hit batter and a successful sacrifice bunt put two runners in scoring position with one out, Bednar waged two long battles with Lars Nootbaar and Paul Goldschmidt with the game on the line.

Like Palacios, Bednar has the track record of coming through in those biggest spots.

"I trust him, man," Endy Rodríguez was telling me. "He's the guy."

Bednar in turn placed his faith in Rodríguez, not backing away from throwing in the dirt again...

...and again...

...and again:

If any of those balls get away, it's a tie game, and Bednar almost needed to go into the dirt a couple times to change the sight lines in 10- and nine-pitch at-bats. But Bednar already has faith in his rookie catcher and knew Rodríguez would come through.

"I've been fortunate this whole year," Bednar said. "That thought never really popped into my head."

"I just give him the hand," Rodríguez said, pantomiming sticking out his glove. "I want his trust 100%. We were on the same page."

In the end, Bednar just needed to hit the glove, catching Nootbaar looking for a third strike before Goldschmidt grounded out to end the game.

"It’s like watching greatness," Palacios said, returning the compliment to his closer. "Those are the ones that you really like to see because he’s grinding, he’s fighting for it, he wants to win it. Those guys, they’ve been doing a good job late in the game. But Bednar is amazing, man. Watching him every single pitch, locking in and how many pitches he has to execute within those at-bats is absolutely ridiculous.

"It’s why the dude’s an All-Star and in my opinion the best closer in the game."

With the win, the Pirates pushed their winning streak to five. In a more macro look, they are 22-19 over their last 41 games, and with the win Saturday, they ensured they will not lose 100 games for a third straight year.

It's a stretch that begs the question of how different this season would have been had the team put together a few more wins in May and June.

Regardless of that forgettable middle portion of the season, there is a palpable energy in the Pirates' clubhouse. Some of it comes from the rookies who have been called up. Sometimes it can be as simple as Andrew McCutchen signaling for Palacios to hit the Griddy as he waits for him at home.

Compared to the last couple years, where September was a limp across the finish line, this team seems to finding its groove again late.

"Without a doubt," Bednar said. "We're just finding ways to win games."

And that energy has been showing up on the field this road trip.

"Their personalities are a piece of who they are and a piece of the way they play," Shelton said pregame. "I don’t think in any way we should stifle that."

"We love this game," Rodríguez said. "The way we play this game is why we're like that... There's personality. We just take it and put it into the game."

GETTY

Josh Palacios rounds third base following his two-run home run in the ninth inning Saturday night in St. Louis.

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THE HIGHLIGHTS

THE INJURIES

• 10-day injured list: RF Henry Davis (thumb)

• 60-day injured list: SS Oneil Cruz (ankle), RHP JT Brubaker (elbow), LHP Jarlin Garcia (elbow), RHP Max Kranick (elbow), INF Tucupita Marcano (knee), LHP Angel Perdomo (elbow), RHP Vince Velasquez (elbow)

THE LINEUPS

Shelton's card:

1. Ke'Bryan Hayes, 3B
2. Bryan Reynolds, LF
3. Andrew McCutchen, DH
4. Connor Joe, 1B
5. Endy Rodríguez, C
6. Miguel Andújar, RF
7. Liover Peguero, 2B
8. Ji Hwan Bae, CF
9. Alika Williams, SS

And for Oliver Marmol's Cardinals:

1. Lars Nootbaar, CF
2. Paul Goldschmidt, 1B
3. Nolan Gorman, 3B
4. Nolan Arenado, DH
5. Willson Contreras, C
6. Tyler O'Neill, LF
7. Tommy Edman, 2B
8. Jordan Walker, RF
9. Masyn Winn, SS

THE SCHEDULE

Johan Oviedo (8-13) will take the ball for the first time since his shutout as the Pirates try to take the weekend series. Zach Thompson (3-5, 3.92) will get the ball for the Cardinals. First pitch is set for 2:15 p.m. Eastern. I'll have you covered.

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