David Bednar’s impressive return to form continued on Tuesday night as the Pittsburgh Pirates’ closer notched his fourth save of the season in a 2-1 victory over the Milwaukee Brewers. Bednar, a two-time All-Star, had missed much of spring training with a right lat issue, raising concerns about his availability. However, the right-hander has put his early-season struggles behind him and is starting to show signs of dominance once again.
After blowing a save on April 9, Bednar bounced back with a scoreless ninth inning against the Philadelphia Phillies on April 12. Despite not pitching in the following four games, Bednar made a strong return in the eighth inning against the New York Mets on April 17. Manager Derek Shelton praised Bednar’s efficiency and noted that he had thrown his best curveballs in the past two games.
Against the Brewers, Bednar showcased his diverse repertoire, mixing his curveball with a four-seam fastball that touched 97.4 mph and his signature splitter. Of his 11 pitches, nine were thrown for strikes, resulting in two strikeouts and two groundouts to end the game. Pirates catcher Joey Bart lauded Bednar’s ability to stay aggressive and land his curveballs in the strike zone.
Bednar’s resurgence is a welcome sight for the Pirates, who are looking to turn their season around after a disappointing start. With Bednar back in top form, the Pirates have a reliable closer they can count on to shut down opponents in the late innings.
