During a nine-game homestand in which the Pirates won six games and swept the Phillies, the bullpen looked the strongest it's been. 

The 3 2/3 innings of work from Braxton Ashcraft, Dennis Santana, Caleb Ferguson and David Bednar in the team's 5-2 win over the Marlins today at PNC Park was a sample.

Ashcraft didn't have his best stuff and allowed one earned run on one hit and two walks. But, Don Kelly went to Santana early enough in the sixth as he, Ferguson and Bednar allowed one hit and struck out five over 3 1/3 scoreless innings to close it. 

"You see Beddy with the split. That was a great pitch, working really well for him. It's worked the whole homestand," Kelly said. "Santana coming in in a tough situation. Fergie being efficient, going there in the eighth. They did a really good job." 

Consider the performances of those three: 

• Bednar: 4 app., 4 IP, 1 H, 0 ER, 8 Ks
• Ferguson: 3 app., 4 2/3 IP, 1 H, 0 ER, 3 Ks
• Santana: 4 app., 4 IP, 2 H, 2 ER, 5 Ks

Good numbers from your best relievers. Now, consider Chase Shugart and Isaac Mattson:

• Shugart: 3 app., 2 2/3 IP, 2 H, 0 ER, 4 Ks
• Mattson: 2 app., 3 IP, 0 H, 0 ER, 4 Ks

As a group, the bullpen worked 28 1/3 innings, allowed six earned runs, 14 hits and produced a 1.91 ERA and 0.78 WHIP.

"I think just collectively as a group coming in and throwing strikes, getting ahead in counts and having leverage counts, just kind of being on the attack," Ferguson told me of what worked at PNC Park. "When the hitter feels like he's kinda backed up against the wall, you're in the right spot." 

The two runs Santana gave up against the Astros on June 3, which came on Isaac Paredes' two-run home run, were the only meaningful runs the bullpen gave up. Ryan Borucki's two earned runs in the 8-2 loss to the Astros and Kyle Nicolas' lone earned run in the 10-3 win over the Marlins were it. 

The backend of the bullpen has also been interchangeable. Bednar has locked down the ninth inning, but Santana has worked high-leverage situations in the sixth, seventh and eighth and the same goes for Ferguson. Kelly seeks out good matchups in crucial spots. 

"The great thing is, there's no ego. They're just willing to do whatever it is to win the baseball game," Kelly said. "They've been phenomenal coming out of the pen." 

Bullpen success can waver. It comes with highs and lows, as the Pirates have experienced. But, when a bullpen is having success, it permeates throughout the group. One pitcher passes the baton to the next, creating a string of momentum and confidence. 

Consider the Pirates' bullpen season ERA of 4.16. It carried a 3.86 ERA through the first month of the season and a 4.92 ERA in May, which ranked 25th in Major League Baseball. However, it's produced a 3.00 ERA in June after Tanner Rainey gave up four earned runs against the Padres on June 1. 

"I think just when you look at it overall as a team and you win games, baseball kinda goes your way at times," Ferguson said. "I think when kinda stuff happens, you can just feel it as a group you can feel the confidence in the room and there's definitely a different vibe, a different buzz."

Now it's time to test that against one of the best offenses in the major leagues when the Pirates head to Chicago for a four-game set against the Cubs.