Amidst Rough Patch, David Bednar Shines Bright in Major Jam

PITTSBURGH — David Bednar’s up and down 2024 season with the Pittsburgh Pirates might have reached a new low in the month of August.

In three-straight appearances, the Pirates closer blew a pair of saves and took the loss in extra innings against the Dodgers in Los Angeles on Sunday.

Dating back to his final appearance in the month of July, Bednar had been scored upon at least once six-straight times out of the bullpen, posting an 11.37 ERA over that stretch.

On Saturday afternoon at PNC Park, the Pirates were sitting comfortably with a 7-2 lead over the Seattle Mariners. Domingo Germán was tasked with the ninth inning but things quickly went awry.

Germán issued a leadoff walk and plunked the next two batters to load the bases with nobody out. It looked liked Bednar would have a night off, but he was quickly called into action.

“I think anytime in the ninth, obviously you’re gonna trust the guy that’s in there, but you never know,” he said. “Always got to stay ready no matter the situation. Once the phone rings you’re kind of just ready to go.”

On top of entering the toughest of situations, Bednar was tasked with wiggling out of the jam by facing the top of the Mariners’ lineup.

On the first pitch he threw, Victor Robles hit a flare into shallow right field and it looked like Bednar was going to immediately allow at least one run to score.

However, the speedy Ji Hwan Bae raced in and made a fantastic diving catch in shallow right near the foul line, much to the delight of Bednar.

“What a play by Ji Hwan to make that catch,” he said following the game. “That’s not an easy play and to start the inning off and get an out, that was huge.”

JI HWAN BAE 😮‍💨 pic.twitter.com/Wvfo15xR3H

— Pittsburgh Pirates (@Pirates) August 17, 2024

After Bae’s web gem, Bednar had to faced Randy Arozarena and Julio Rodríguez, the Mariners two and three hitters.

Bednar struck out both batters and was visibly fired up after recording the final out in the Pirates’ win. Not only did the two-time All-Star convert his 22nd save of the season, but he performed a Houdini act in preventing a single run from scoring.

“(Bednar) looked more comfortable,” said manager Derek Shelton. “(Friday), he looked like he was forcing it a little bit and (Saturday) he looked free and easy, which is important, too, coming in bases loaded, nobody out. The fact that he was free and easy I think was important.”

Thanks in part to Bednar’s ability to shut the door in the ninth, the Pirates won their second-straight game after dropping 10 straight and 12 of their last 13 prior to the start of the series against Seattle.

Though the damage already seems to be done, it’s a small step towards a sign of encouragement after an abysmal two-week stretch.

“I think it just shows the grittiness of this group and the resilience of everybody,” Bednar said. “Everybody keeps on battling and fighting and now it’s just keep on rolling.”

Bednar’s struggles of late aren’t unfamiliar this season. The 29-year-old stumbled out of the gate after an abbreviated spring training. At the beginning of May, Bednar found a groove and looked much more as expected for the majority of the season before his most recent rut.

It’s one game, but maybe this is the kind of performance Bednar needed to deliver to once again get him back on track.