Until the seventh inning of Saturday’s contest at PNC Park, the story of the game were the home runs by René Rivera and Harold Ramirez. However, when the already taxed Indians bullpen was called upon to record the final 12 outs of the game, they changed the narrative.

In the seventh inning, the Pirates blasted two three-run homers, handing the Indians their second straight loss, 6-3.

Bryan Shaw started the seventh taking the mound for Cleveland with the club ahead, 2-0. After issuing back-to-back walks, Michael Perez smacked the first home run of the inning. Shaw would toss just four more pitches, issuing his third free pass of the day -- a season high.

“He's had almost a walk an inning this year,” said manager Terry Francona. “But he's given up so few hits that it hasn't really cost him. There's been a few games, but he's really pitched around it pretty well.”

Right-handed reliever James Karinchak continued the wildness trend, walking the first batter he faced. With two men on, Pittsburgh muscled up again. Bryan Reynolds smacked a 428-foot three-run homer, giving the Pirates a 6-2 lead.

“Karinchak is a young kid,” said Francona. “He's going to walk some people every now and again. I think they're really good, but they're still young.”

It was the first time since August 17, 2004, that the Indians allowed two three-run homers in a single frame. The inning also saw an uncharacteristic amount of walks (six).

The Indians’ offense tried to rally back in the top of the ninth inning when Ramirez smacked his second homer of the game -- his first career multi-homer performance. However, Cleveland was unable to put any more runs on the board, losing both the game and the series.

Francona and starting pitcher Cal Quantrill, who pitched five scoreless innings for the Tribe, both reiterated that the performance from the bullpen is nothing more than a few mistakes and not a pattern.

“It’s just a blip on the radar. We've got the best ‘pen in baseball,” said Quantrill. “This is not an issue. Guys can't be perfect. It's a long season. I'm sure that there's no one beating themselves up more. But we're not where we are right now without those guys. So there's zero concern for me.”

Quantrill, who made consecutive appearances as a starter for just the second time this season, not only wanted to pitch well in an attempt to prove himself ready for the starting rotation, but he felt an obligation to pitch as long as he could to try and “eat up” a few extra innings for the bullpen.

Heading into Saturday, the Indians’ bullpen owned the fifth-best ERA in the Majors (3.26). With key members of the starting rotation (Shane Bieber and Zach Plesac) on the IL, they have been called upon early and often. They have risen to the challenge, so their skipper hasn’t pressed the panic button after one game.

“It's uncharacteristic,” said Francona of the seventh inning. “It proves they're human. We've asked a lot of them, and we will continue to because we have a lot of faith in them. I agree with [Quantrill]. These are guys that have been there and done it, and will continue to do it. It hurt today, but we'll put it behind us and we'll see if we can do better tomorrow.”