The Pirates' lengthy nine-game road trip that spanned 11 days and three cities is finally over.
After getting swept by the Dodgers before rebounding and taking two of three from the Padres, Pittsburgh earned a series win at Busch Stadium with a rubber match win on Sunday.
The Pirates couldn't muster anything offensively in the series opener and were defeated 4-1. But they bounced back for a 6-2 win on Saturday afternoon and held on for a 5-4 win in the finale.
The Pirates, historically, don't win many series in St. Louis. Notching one over the weekend (to improve to 4-2 over their last six games) is a nice way to end a prolonged road trip, although more needed to be done to make some noise in the wild card race.
At the conclusion of Sunday's game, the Pirates sit six games back in the wild card standings with 24 games remaining on the schedule.
Team defense has been an issue for the Pirates all season. It was much easier to overlook any shortcomings when the offense was performing like the league's top unit during the first half. But the problem has been much more glaring during the team's second-half slump.
Take the first two games of the series in St. Louis, for example. The Pirates made three errors in each of the first two games. The bats couldn't do enough to overcome the defensive deficiencies in the first game of the series. But a six-run, 11-hit outburst in the second game of the series led to the desired outcome.
I can't remember ever seeing what transpired on Saturday. Three straight balls in play, three straight errors. Back-to-back miscues by shortstop Jacob Gonzalez and a whiff on a fly ball from Oneil Cruz in center. The Pirates hadn't had three straight errors since 2004, a year they finished with 103 errors, tied for 15th in MLB. This year, the Pirates can lead the league in errors with 90 through 138 games.
There are several reasons the Pirates faded from the postseason picture. Defense is absolutely one, especially when coupled with the offensive struggles.
Gonzalez's tough game in the field came on the same day it was announced that Konnor Griffin will begin a rehab assignment, which commences on Sunday with Double-A Altoona. Griffin's absence has been felt. After Sunday's win, the Pirates are 21-26 since he landed on the IL eight weeks ago.
The good news is, Griffin will be returning soon if all goes to plan. The 20-year-old is batting second and playing shortstop for the Curve and is eligible to come off the injured list on Friday when the Pirates begin a three-game series against the Angels
Griffin has had a solid rookie season, and has been particularly good since turning 20 years old on April 24. In 58 games this year, he carries a .276/.332/.404 batting line with 10 doubles, two triples, five home runs, 25 RBI and 20 games. Since exiting his teens, he's hit .314/.368/.472 with all five homers coming during that time.
Jared Triolo has done a decent job filling in for Griffin. A natural third baseman, Triolo is the Pirates' second-best defensive option at short. He's hit safely in six straight games, including homering on Sunday. Jacob Gonzalez hasn't worked out the way the Pirates were hoping when they acquired him from the White Sox — on both sides of the ball.
Griffin offers much more offense, better defense and world-class speed. It's a shame his promising season has been interrupted by injuries, but getting Griffin back on the field will be big for the Pirates. It looks like his return will be too late to try and help a potential playoff push, but Griffin is obviously a key piece of this team's future.
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