On the surface, a late September loss for the Pittsburgh Pirates is nothing unusual. For countless years this late into the season, the Pirates have been well out of a playoff race and are fielding rosters lined with players who are hoping to make an impression for next year’s roster.
But this loss was very different.
On Tuesday night, in extra innings, the Pirates lost on the road in Philadelphia to the Phillies, by a final score of 3-2.
After failing to bring in any runs (once again) to start extra innings, the Pirates turned to David Bednar to keep the game tied. Unfortunately, Bednar fails this time.
After getting Brandon Marsh to chase and strikeout, Bednar allows an up the middle ground ball to Johan Rojas, who instantly knows the significance of the swing he just took.
Cristian Pache rounds third, and bulldozes home, and the packed house in Philly goes crazy. Rojas is dancing in the early outfield as the Pirates slowly trot off the field.
With that hit, the Phillies punched their ticket to the postseason.
Perhaps not as big of a rivalry as say Penguins-Flyers, but being the team that allowed your cross state rival into the postseason stings just a little.
Many Pirates players immediately headed for the dugout, as the Phillies took to the field for a celebration of more guaranteed baseball.
But one player stood in the dugout, watching it all unfold.
Former Phillies pitcher Bailey Falter, who was traded by Philly to Pittsburgh at the deadline, stood in the visitors dugout and watched all his old friends and teammates celebrate on the field.
It’s as sad an image as you’ll see, but it tells a bigger story for the Pirates organization.
This Pirates team was the best we’ve seen in years, earning their highest win total since the 2018 Pirates (who won 82 games). They showed a lot of growth on the field as prospect after prospect was brought up to the big leagues, and the next era of Pirates baseball began.
They’re going to play more, they’re going to grow more, and hopefully, they’re going to succeed more.
But this game on Tuesday possibly served as the greatest growing pain yet.
No one expected anything from the Pirates this season. And after the 20-8 start (albeit before the likes of Davis, Rodriguez, and others were here), we saw the potential this team had.
Sure, that run was a fluke, but if you look the last few months of Pirates baseball, they’ve been a rather competitive team.
And with a full season of a better ball club on the field next year, and the return of Oneil Cruz, if the right moves are made this offseason, they might have a real chance.
And this image of watching the Phillies celebrate is something that each and every member of this Pirates team should burn into their memories for next season.
For Falter, perhaps that moment hurt a lot more, and for the guy he was traded for, Rodolfo Castro, I’m sure he’s happy to be on the other end.
But that was a crucial moment for everyone wearing the beautiful black and yellow that night.
That pain of watching your opponent celebrating a playoff berth after their game against you is something they all need to keep with them.
Because next season, you’re going to want to remember it, when you have a chance to be on the other side of it.
(Featured photo by Matt Slocum/AP)
Fifth Avenue Sports 
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