CHICAGO — Bullpen games have been plenty successful for the Pirates this season.
They employed that strategy to perfection Wednesday to beat the White Sox, 4-2, at Rate Field, securing yet another series victory.
Eight relievers combined on the effort, starting with Lake Bachar, Brandon Eisert and Carmen Mlodzinski, who navigated the first five.
Gregory Soto, Camilo Doval, Yohan Ramírez, Luke Weaver and Mason Montgomery took it the rest of the way, as the Pirates (73-73) climbed back to .500 for the first time since they were 57-57 following a win on Aug. 3 at Milwaukee.
Offensively, Esmerlyn Valdez homered, Brandon Lowe had two hits, and Konnor Griffin came up clutch with a two-run single in the seventh, a three-run outburst that turned out to be pivotal.
The Pirates bent in the seventh and eighth, allowing single runs. But then they turned consecutive inning-ending double plays for the first time since April 28, 2021.
Ramirez wiggled out of the first of those with a double play. Then with Weaver pitching, Jared Triolo — who started the double play for Ramirez — snared a line drive off the bat of White Sox shortstop Chase Meidroth and stepped on third to end the frame.
Bachar continued his recent run of success in the opener role with 1 2/3 shutout innings, striking out three. In five opening assignments with Pittsburgh this season, Bachar has allowed just two earned runs in 11 1/1 innings for a 1.59 ERA.
While the right-hander was good, Eisert was even better, doing way more than just handling a small pocket of left-handed hitters.
Eisert recorded seven straight outs, which included a career-high five strikeouts. After stranding two runners in the first, Eisert has stranded all seven runners he's inherited with the Pirates this season.
Over just four innings, Bachar and Eisert combined for 16 whiffs.
Meanwhile, Valdez put the Pirates in front, 1-0 with his solo homer in the fifth inning. It came on an 0-2 sinker located middle-in. Valdez showcased his opposite-field power by cranking it over the right-field fence.
Valdez's 17 homers are the most for a Pirates rookie since 2022, when Jack Suwinski had 19 and Oneil Cruz hit 17.
One wrinkle of Wednesday's bullpen game included another one-inning appearance for Mlodzinski, who followed Eisert. Mlodzinski breezed through a 1-2-3 frame, throwing just 10 pitches. But this represented his second straight one-inning outing after 31 that went at least two innings.
The right-hander has now allowed just one hit and one unearned run in 8 1/3 innings over his past four appearances, none of them starts.
In what turned out to be an important rally, Pittsburgh scored three times in the seventh grab a 4-0 advantage.
Rafael Flores Jr. got the first big hit: a line-drive single into center on a changeup low and away. By driving in Billy Cook, Flores picked up his 17th RBI since Aug. 13 Miami, a span of 22 games.
Griffin had the other one, also a line-drive single to center, this time on a sinker up and in. The Pirates shortstop found a few different ways to contribute in this one. He actually stole bases, matching his career high. Tuesday represented his first MLB game with two steals and two RBIs.
Ramirez clutch
Things started to tilt for the Pirates in the seventh, as the White Sox loaded the bases with one out via two walks and a single against Doval.
Second baseman Sam Antonacci scalded a ball at 103 mph to first base. Spencer Horwitz made a terrific diving stop, but Doval failed to cover first base, meaning the Pirates couldn’t get an out as a run scored.
Ramírez entered the game and gave the Pirates exactly what they needed: an inning-ending double play ball, started by Triolo and turned by Lowe.
After the play, it looked like Lowe might’ve said something to Antonacci after his elbow came up high at second base. Both benches and bullpens emptied, though nothing ever came of the frustration.
It was the third time Ramirez has induced bases-loaded, inning-ending double plays this season. He did so against Tampa’s Junior Caminero in the 13th inning on April 18 and to Cincinnati’s Elly De La Cruz in the sixth on June 27.
The White Sox got another run back in the eighth, when first baseman Munetaka Murakami took Luke Weaver deep. It came on a 1-1 changeup that Weaver left up in the zone. Murakami blasted it at 110 mph out to right-center for his 31st of the season.
By the numbers:
73-73: Overall record
5.0: Games back in the NL Wild Card race
5: Consecutive series victories for the Pirates, along with seven in their past eight
2015: The last time the Pirates won five straight series (Aug. 14-30).
This story will be updated.
Jason Mackey: Jason.Mackey@pirates.com and @JMackey_PGH on X.