Pirates' David Bednar: Scoreless inning to earn win
Rotowire
Bednar (2-2) didn't allow a baserunner and struck out one in a scoreless ninth inning to earn the win Saturday against the Rockies.
Bednar entered in the ninth inning of a scoreless game and held the Rockies in check. It was a needed outing, as he entered Saturday having given up runs in each of his last three appearances. Bednar has an ugly 10.50 ERA and 1.50 WHIP across 12 frames for the season, though there is no indication that he's in danger of losing the closer role.
Bednar earned the save against the Giants on Saturday, allowing one run on two hits while striking out three over one inning.
Bednar entered the game with a three-run lead in the bottom of the 10th and surrendered a two-run shot to Jorge Soler in the leadoff at-bat to make it 4-3. The reliever also allowed an infield single in the frame but managed to work his way through it, getting all his outs by way of strikeout. Bednar has now converted each of his last four save attempts, though he's also allowed at least one run in back-to-back appearances, leaving him with a dreadful 13.50 ERA in April.
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Pirates' David Bednar: Falters in San Francisco
Rotowire
Bednar (1-2) took the loss Friday against the Giants after he allowed three runs on two hits and a walk without recording an out.
Pirates manager Derek Shelton turned to his closer in the bottom of the ninth of a scoreless tie, but Bednar gave up a walk and a single before serving up a walk-off, three-run homer to Patrick Bailey. Bednar entered the contest with three straight scoreless appearances, but he has now allowed at least three runs in three separate outings and has a 12.00 ERA across nine innings overall. The right-hander is 4-for-7 in save opportunities and has seen his job security decline significantly after beginning the campaign as one of the top closers in MLB with 58 saves and a 2.27 ERA in the previous two seasons.
Bednar earned the save in Tuesday's 2-1 victory over the Brewers, striking out one in a perfect ninth inning.
After a shaky start to the year, Bednar's now delivered three straight scoreless appearances, allowing just one hit in that span. Overall, he's 4-for-7 in save chances with a 9.00 ERA, 1.22 WHIP and 12:2 K:BB through 12 innings this season.
Bednar picked up the save Monday against the Brewers. He pitched one shutout inning, allowing one hit and no walks with one strikeout.
Bednar appeared to be back to his All-Star form Monday night, locking down his third save without issue. The one hit he allowed came via an infield single from the speedy Jackson Chourio. Despite sporting an unsightly 10.13 ERA, Bednar is firmly cemented as the Pittsburgh closer.
Bednar tossed one clean inning, striking out one during Sunday's 6-1 loss to the Red Sox.
While the Pirates were down five heading into the ninth, the much-needed nondescript outing was noteworthy for Bednar who had allowed nine runs over his first six innings of the season including seven runs over the last two innings coming into Sunday's action. Bednar's hold on the closer's job in PIttsburgh remains strong as Sunday's outing will hopefully serve to get him back on the right track.
