PITTSBURGH (93.7 The Fan) - The Pirates Bullpen continued their strong work as of late, as they pitched 5 scoreless innings Friday night after Chris Archer was forced to leave the game as a precaution after 4 innings with left hip discomfort.
Closer Felipe Vasquez pitched a scoreless 8th and 9th to get the win after the Pirates tied the game in the 8th and took the lead in the 9th on an RBI Groundout from Kevin Newman.
Vasquez joined Dan Zangrilli on Fan Reaction Friday night after the game to discuss the victory and how well this team has been playing the last couple weeks.
They begin talking about the success that Vasquez had with the curveball Friday night in Milwaukee.
"It's always there, it just doesn't seem like it's a curveball because I think it's so hard," said Vasquez. "I took a little off (today) just to make it look like a curveball. You got to do everything here man, they figure you out and they know I'm a fastball, slider guy so I just try to put another pitch in there."
Vasquez talks more about working on the curveball and why it is important to show that third pitch every now and then to make the hitters think even more about what pitch he is going to throw when he's on the mound.
This team has been playing really well the past couple weeks after some struggles during the beginning of June and Vasquez talks about the feeling inside the clubhouse right now.
"Everybody's doing their job, trying to get people out, get some hits," said Vasquez. "The Starter's are doing a good job, if they get scored (on) they try and hold the game there."
Vasquez talks more about the starter's being able to keep the games within reach to give the offense a chance to come back even if they fall behind early. Also, the bullpen seems to be pitching with greater confidence right now than at any other point so far this season.
"Everybody's doing an amazing job in the bullpen," said Vasquez. "Trying to hold the game in there for me and if I come just try to get some innings just to give other guys a day off or something. Everybody's doing their job in the bullpen and I think we're in a good run right now."
Dan and Felipe also discuss something he did during a recent off day when he drove down to Morgantown, West Virginia to meet with the Black Bears players (Pirates Class A Short Season Affiliate) and why he did that.
"Jesus Valles is a friend of mine, so he is down there and I thought he was pitching that day actually and he was suppose to pitch the next day," said Vasquez. "So, I just went down and I just spent the day with all the guys down there. Played catch, BP, just like the regular stuff we do up here, I just did it down there."