Five observations: Nick Gonzales, Pirates bullpen come up clutch to knock off Brewers

MILWAUKEE — The Pirates’ victory Friday over the Brewers was defined by Paul Skenes’ dominance and a breakout performance from Konnor Griffin, who smacked the first home run of his MLB career.

Loud moments, right?

A day later, the strategy was slightly more subtle, the Pirates scoring a half-dozen runs but doing so without an extra-base hit, plus Pittsburgh pushing three across in the 10th to secure a gritty 6-3 win at American Family Field.

Bryan Reynolds and Nick Gonzales each drove in runs, as the Pirates won a series here for the first time since July 9, 2024. They’ll now go for their first sweep in Milwaukee since Aug. 25-28, 2016.

“I think it speaks to what we’ve talked about with the team approach, the offensive identity we have and finding ways to grind it out,” Pirates manager Don Kelly said.

After Marcell Ozuna pinch hit and worked a walk in the 10th, Reynolds nudged the Pirates in front by turning on an inside sinker and sending it into left field at 102.3 mph to score Henry Davis.

Gonzales followed by connecting on a 1-1 sweeper Grant Anderson left up, also lining it into left. When Greg Jones bobbled the ball, Reynolds also came around to score.

It was another clutch moment for Gonzales, who’s hitting a team-best .356 (16 for 45) with runners on base. Overall, Gonzales finished with three hits to increase his average to .302. He also has 13 RBIs, the total ranking fifth on the team.

“I really enjoy hitting in those moments,” Gonzales said. “I think you’re able to impact the game right away with a base hit that scores a run or two. That’s exciting for me, exciting for the team, and I feel like I contributed right there.”

He certainly did. Gonzales also isn’t alone. Plenty of guys pitched in. Let’s explore with a few observations.

1. Reynolds and Gonzales supplied the clutch hitting, but the bullpen deserves just as much credit. After Mitch Keller exited, Isaac Mattson, Mason Montgomery, Dennis Santana, Gregory Soto and Yohan Ramirez all took a turn.

Their combined line: five innings, one hit, no runs, two walks and five strikeouts.

Kelly went with Santana in the eighth against 3-4-5, and it worked. Soto breezed through the ninth. Ramirez fanned two in the 10th.

Mattson and Montgomery struggled in that opening series but have been fantastic since then. There have been questions with Justin Lawrence and middle relief, but Saturday featured some excellent, efficient work.

“They’ve been awesome,” Kelly said.

“Unbelievable,” Keller added. “I think any time we have a lead, they’re just gonna lock it down.”

There have been rocky moments, but the Pirates bullpen has a 3.29 ERA. That’s the seventh-best mark in baseball. The crazy part: There’s still room for improvement.

If the Pirates can continue to help Lawrence rediscover himself, this can be a top-five group. They just need to find some help in the early-to-middle innings.

Also, Montgomery continues to shine. Seven straight without a run allowed. Opposing hitters are two for 18 (.111) against him with runners in scoring position. Over his past seven outings: two walks, 11 strikeouts.

2. There really is something to the Pirates’ pass-the-baton mentality. Last year or in previous seasons, guys would’ve tried to do too much. Rarely would they have scored six runs with such a drip-drip-drip approach.

Comes much more naturally to this group — and they needed it Saturday.

Spencer Horwitz lined a four-seamer to center for a 1-0 lead in the top of the fourth. Konnor Griffin followed by taking a slider to right for his 12th RBI. Smart approaches.

After the Brewers tied it with two runs in the fourth, Horwitz delivered another professional at-bat and drove in a run with a sacrifice fly.

It was even more impressive that those at-bats came against Jacob Misiorowski, who averaged 100.5 mph with his four-seamer, topped out at 102.7 and struck out nine.

Not exactly easy stuff to hit.

“Obviously we know with a guy throwing that elite fastball, you gotta wait him out and see what he’s doing, if he’s locating,” Gonzales said. “I think that’s what we did early. See if he’s throwing strikes, and he was.

“A lot of strikes, pounding the zone, and we just chipped away. Singling him to death is what we have to try to do and I think we were able to do that a little bit and have great at-bats. He’s a helluva pitcher, so it’s tough facing a guy like that.”

3. Mitch Keller’s last start was a big deal for the Pirates at the time. Kelly argued it may have been the team’s most important start of the year. Braxton Ashcraft and Paul Skenes have since followed with seven-inning gems.

It wasn’t quite that level for Keller, but he mostly matched Misiorowski and gave the Pirates a chance to win. Keller went five-plus and allowed three earned runs on five hits with two walks and six strikeouts.

The curveball and sweeper were bigger weapons than usual for Keller, who’s done an excellent job pitching off his four-seam fastball this season.

Keller and Henry Davis knew the Brewers would be hunting heat, so they smartly adjusted, hence the amount of breaking stuff that was used.

“Felt really good,” Keller said. “I felt like all my pitches were working well. Hank and I had a great game plan going in. I didn't execute as well as I could have in some of those situations, but overall, pretty good.”

4. Couple quick ones …

Smart challenge by Henry Davis on Tyler Black in the second inning. Stole a strikeout for Keller.

A few more solid reads and breaks from Oneil Cruz, who also communicated well with Bryan Reynolds on Sal Frelick’s sacrifice fly. If you’re going to criticize the bad, you have to praise the good. He’s been better.

5. Big opportunity for the Pirates on Sunday. They haven’t swept a series here since Aug. 25-28, 2016. It won’t announce their arrival or anything dramatic like that. Kelly has bristled at that idea for weeks. But it will further a strong first month.

Nick Gonzales is coming alive at the right time. Has a six-game hitting streak. Jared Triolo should see his rehab assignment advance soon, and he’ll get playing time when he returns to the Major League club.

It’s probably between Gonzales and Nick Yorke for that last spot — the other will need at-bats — and Gonzales has done a very good job stating his case of late.

Jason Mackey: Jason.Mackey@pirates.com and @JMackeyPG on X.