PITTSBURGH — Luis Ortiz’s season started with a demotion to the bullpen. Despite a longer connection to the club and better numbers throughout spring training, the Pirates instead chose Bailey Falter for their fifth and final spot in the starting rotation.

Rather than pouting, Ortiz continued to work. He embraced his swiss army knife role in the bullpen, pitching in both leverage and length situations. He then thrived in June whenever he was used as the bulk man during bullpen games. Midway through the season, he earned a promotion to the starting rotation. He has not looked back since.

Ortiz’s breakout season concluded Wednesday evening at PNC Park with him leading the Pirates to a 2-1 victory over the Milwaukee Brewers. The victory concluded his 2024 campaign with a 7-6 record and 3.32 ERA over 135 2/3 innings.

A notable tweak Ortiz made to his game early this season was adding a cutter to his pitch mix. The new pitch served the right-hander all season, and Tuesday evening was no different. Ortiz threw his cutter 27 times, his second most used pitch behind only his four-seam fastball (29). His four-seamer was his most effective putout pitch on the night, accounting for four of his five strikeouts.

Ortiz’s lone mistake came in the second inning, when Jake Bauers tagged him for a solo homer. That longball was one of just four hits Ortiz surrendered. He walked one batter. Per usual, the majority of his outs came on soft, quick contact.

On the mound

Ortiz was relieved by Dennis Santana, another surprising success story for the Pirates in 2024. Santana pitched a clean eighth inning, retiring the side in order. He enters the final four games of the season having allowed just one earned run over his last 23 1/3 innings pitched.

Aroldis Chapman came on in the ninth to conclude the victory with his 12th save on the year. His strikeout against Blake Perkins marked No. 95 on the season, the most by a left-handed reliever in franchise history.

At the plate

Pittsburgh’s runs came in the bottom of the fifth inning via a two-out double from Liover Peguero, who was recalled from Triple-A Indianapolis Monday. The hit marked Peguero’s first big league knock since October 1 of last year.

The Pirates finished with just three total hits in their victory, the other two coming from Isiah Kiner-Falefa. The effort marked Kiner-Falefa’s seventh multi-hit game this month.

Up next

Thursday: Brewers at Pirates, 12:35 p.m. ET, PNC Park

Probable pitchers: RHP Mitch Keller (11-11, 4.21) for Pirates; RHP Aaron Civale (7-9, 4.53) for Brewers.

Key matchup: Keller has received one run of support or less when he has been on the mound seven times in his last 11 starts.

Hidden stat: Isiah Kiner-Falefa’s single in the fourth inning marked the 700th hit in his big league career.

Friday: Pirates at Yankees, 7:05 p.m., Yankee Stadium

Probable pitchers: RHP Jared Jones (6-8, 4.14) for Pirates; LHP Carlos Rodon (16-9, 3.98) for Brewers.

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