First number, last word

By Tom Singer

August 23, 2013

2.81: The collective ERA of Pirates relievers entering Friday night's game against the Giants. That is the lowest mark for the Buccos' bullpen since 1975 when it finished the season with an ERA of 2.54.

"I could've very easily had the same first half as the second half I'm having. So it's not something I'm going to lose sleep over. I'll keep going out there with the plan of closing out inning after inning. Sometimes, I'm just giving hitters more credit than they deserve, not realizing that it's not that easy to hit a fastball down the middle." -- Jeff Locke, after lasting only four innings on Thursday night against the Giants.

Tom Singer is a reporter for MLB.com and writes an MLBlog Change for a Nickel. He can also be found on Twitter @Tom_Singer.