PITTSBURGH — The Pirates’ messaging over this season has been consistent. They’re certain they’ve improved throughout the year, and they have a stat to tell you why.
Entering this week’s series against the Milwaukee Brewers, they’d played in an MLB-high 61 games this season decided by two runs or fewer. In those games, their record was 25-36. Since May 20 alone, 31 of the Pirates’ 41 losses have come by two runs or fewer. From the front office to manager Derek Shelton to the players themselves, the Pirates have pointed to that number to explain they’re closer than some may think if they could just figure out how to pull out the close games.
Perhaps, that tide is beginning to turn. The Pirates beat the Brewers, 5-4, in extra innings on Thursday, clinching a three-game sweep over their division foes, with all three wins coming by two runs or fewer, and, for the second game in a row, the win came via walk-off.
