‘We Don’t Do That Out Here,’ Rowdy Tellez Calls out Boos Aimed at David Bednar

PITTSBURGH — For the third time in four attempts this season, Pittsburgh Pirates two-time All-Star closing pitcher David Bednar blew a save.

The latest came in the Pirates’ 5-3 loss to the Detroit Tigers on Tuesday afternoon at PNC Park. Bednar was handed the ball with a 3-1 lead but struggled with wildness and ended up getting charged with four runs. The right-hander’s third blown save was also his first loss of the year.

Bednar hit two batters, walked one and fired only 9 of his 23 pitches for strikes. During his struggles boos started to rain down from the 10,058 fans in attendance.

Manager Derek Shelton made the call to the bullpen with one out in the ninth. As he took the ball from Bednar and the Pirates’ closer walked off the field, Pirates’ fans started to applauded.

As Bednar was about to begin speaking with the media in the clubhouse after the game, first baseman Rowdy Tellez interjected.

“This is the pride of Pittsburgh to everybody,” Tellez said as he patted Bednar on the chest. “We don’t do that out here. We’re a good team. We’re winning for a reason. We’re gonna get our man back on track, but what happened today, I think is unacceptable and we as a group in Pittsburgh gotta be better. This is an All-Star for a reason and we have to be better.”

ATTENTION PITTSBURGH … ROWDY TELLEZ HAS SOMETHING TO SAY!!

Rowdy Tellez has a message for the negative way fans responded to David Bednar today.#OurRenegade 🫶🏴‍☠️@SNPittsburgh @Pirates pic.twitter.com/x0oDwKoaqq

— Hannah Mears (@mearshannah_) April 9, 2024

Despite the loss on Tuesday, the Pirates are off to a 9-3 start and sit atop the National League Central division. They wrapped up their first homestand of the season at 3-2, winning two out of three from the Baltimore Orioles and splitting a two-game set with the Tigers.

After a day off on Wednesday, the Pirates will travel across the state for a four-game series with the Philadelphia Phillies starting on Thursday night.