MLB recognizes Pirates red-hot closer with award on Friday

Rodney Knuppel

MLB recognizes Pirates red-hot closer with award on Friday image

The Pittsburgh Pirates have been absolutely red-hot as July rolls in. Pittsburgh heads into their Friday afternoon game at Seattle as winners of six straight games.

The St. Louis Cardinals came to PNC Park this week, and came away with zero runs through three games. The Pirates outscored St. Louis 13-0 in the three game sweep.

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While the Pirates are still 12 games under .500 at 38-50, the Pirates are surging in the correct direction.

On Friday, MLB recognized one of their untouchable hurlers, as closer David Bednar was announced as the National League Reliever of the Month for June.

Bednar tossed 10 innings in the Month of June and did not allow a single earned run. He struck out 16 during that stretch. He picked up a save, albeit dicey in the Tuesday 1-0 win over the Cardinals.

The last time Bednar allowed an earned run was May 23 at home against Milwaukee.

On the season, he is 2-5, with a 2.73 earned run average. Bednar has 12 saves on the season.

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Rodney Knuppel

Rodney Knuppel is a freelance writer for The Sporting News. When not watching, listening or writing about sports, Rodney enjoys following the travels of his three kids, who are all active in their own sports and activities. A huge St. Louis Cardinals fan, Rodney also enjoys St. Louis Blues hockey and is a big Kansas Jayhawks basketball fan.