With reinforcements (and Valdez's bat) in tow, Bucs sweep doubleheader vs. Brewers

PITTSBURGH -- With the MLB Draft looming on Saturday, the Pirates made a deal late Friday night to help the team in the present. Pittsburgh dealt the No. 34 pick and Triple-A pitcher Jaden Woods to the White Sox for infielder Jacob Gonzalez and left-handed reliever Brandon Eisert.

Even as the excitement surrounded Pittsburgh’s first few rounds of the MLB Draft and the trade on Friday, it still had two of its biggest games of the year to play. Against the NL Central-leading Brewers, the Pirates swept the doubleheader, winning both games by a one-run margin (7-6 in Game 1 and 3-2 in Game 2), as the bullpen allowed one run in a combined 8 1/3 innings.

“Two huge wins and two different ways that we accomplish that today,” Pirates manager Don Kelly said.

With All-Star Braxton Ashcraft on the mound in Game 1, the Pirates fell behind, 6-3, but battled back with some magic. Esmerlyn Valdez, also known as “The Magician,” tallied six RBIs. With the Pirates trailing in the seventh, Valdez hit a towering grand slam for his second home run of the game and the lead.

On in relief of Ashcraft, Carmen Mlodzinski allowed one run in three innings to stretch the game to the ninth for Gregory Soto. While loading the bases, Soto worked a 5-2 double play to end the game and secure a victory to open the series.

Between games, Gonzalez and Eisert were activated for the Pirates. Gonzalez arrived from Charlotte in the fifth inning of the first game, while Eisert walked into the clubhouse around 2:20, played catch and was ready to go.

“[It’s] been a whirlwind,” Eisert said. “Found out last night I was traded here, flew out this morning, and then you were at game two. Rapid fire, just going with it. Excited to be here.”

Rather than use the 34th pick to address the bullpen need directly, Pittsburgh elected to improve the bullpen and fill a gap with Konnor Griffin’s absence. General manager Ben Cherington explained that the deal was made due to his belief in the current roster, Gonzalez's long-term abilities, and a need for a lefty with Evan Sisk down.

Gonzalez was in the dugout in Game 2, and also had a whirlwind of a day. But he didn’t start with the Brewers starting left-handed pitcher Shane Drohan. Gonzalez was optioned to Triple-A Charlotte on Thursday, and after two innings on Friday, he was pulled and scrolled through social media, attempting to find his next destination.

The former first-round pick will fill in at shortstop largely, though he said he’s capable of playing all four infield spots. Kelly was especially excited about his power improvements, which could play well as a left-handed bat in PNC Park. Gonzalez was available off the bench and would’ve been used as a pinch-hitting option in the late innings if the team trailed or was tied.

While the additions will help, it was the rookie again in Game 2 that led the way. Valdez homered in the fourth for his third of the day (two in the first game and one in the second), giving Pittsburgh a 2-0 lead with Bubba Chandler on the mound.

After Brice Turang doubled to tie the game in the fifth, Eisert came on for his Pirates debut. He walked two batters, but he worked out of the jam to escape unscathed.

“The underlying stuff that the office saw is very intriguing,” Kelly said pregame. “How he's able to attack lefties … to add another lefty that gives us some more flexibility to do other things.”

With the score still tied, Bryan Reynolds retook the lead in the bottom of the sixth on a single down the right-field line.

Pittsburgh’s bullpen worked four scoreless innings to close the game out, securing the win and sweep in the doubleheader. Now, with Gonzalez in the mix and Eisert coming on as another lefty, the Pirates will go for the knockout punch on Sunday.