![\"Pittsburgh](\"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/mlb\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/01kp09tpq9mkqqfr9nef.jpg\" "\\"Pittsburgh")
<\/p>\nPITTSBURGH \u2014 The Pittsburgh Pirates needed a big showing from their bullpen in their most recent game and one pitcher took on the challenge and came through.<\/p>\n
Right-handed relief pitcher Yohan Ram\u00edrez threw two scoreless innings for the Pirates in extra innings, helping them secure a 4-3 victory over the Chicago Cubs at Wrigley Field on April 11.<\/p>\n
Ram\u00edrez wasn’t perfect in his start, making a crucial error, but worked out of two difficult situations, giving the Pirates another chance to win it and then securing the victory for them soon after.<\/p>\n
It also showed the Pirates that despite not seeing Ram\u00edrez as a key part of their bullpen coming into 2026, he’s more than earned his roster spot and is now one of their most important relief pitchers.<\/p>\n
How Ram\u00edrez Got the Pirates the Win Over the Cubs<\/p>\n
The Pirates failed to score a run in the top of the 10th inning, which meant that Ram\u00edrez had to come in and prevent the Cubs from scoring, even with a runner on second base.<\/p>\n
It was also a difficult spot for Ram\u00edrez, who came in after Dennis Santana blew a save in the ninth inning and was sixth pitcher out of the bullpen for the Pirates in this game and he had to come through.<\/p>\n
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Apr 11, 2026; Chicago, Illinois, USA; Pittsburgh Pirates pitcher Yohan Ramirez (49) pitches against the Chicago Cubs during the tenth inning at Wrigley Field. Mandatory Credit: Patrick Gorski-Imagn Images | Patrick Gorski-Imagn Images<\/p>\n
Ram\u00edrez loaded the bases, but also struck out two batters and then got a ground out, preventing the Cubs from getting the win.<\/p>\n
He then had a one-run lead in the 11th inning and got an easy ground ball from leadoff hitter, Cubs second baseman Nico Hoerner, but threw it wide of Pirates first baseman Ryan O’Hearn, which moved Hoerner to second base and two runners into scoring position.<\/p>\n
Ram\u00edrez did the unthinkable, as he got Matt Shaw to line out to right fielder Billy Cook, third baseman Alex Bregman to pop up to O’Hearn and then after intentionally walking left fielder Ian Happ, he got Seiya Suzuki to pop up to O’Hearn and secured the win for the Pirates.<\/p>\n
Coming back from that error is no easy feat, but Ram\u00edrez knew he had to do what he could for his team and give them a chance to get the victory any way possible.<\/p>\n
“I accepted it like it was, an error and flipped the page, basically,” Ram\u00edrez said through interpreter Stephen Morales in a video from DK Pittsburgh Sports<\/a>. “I knew I had more opportunities to help the team and get some of those hitters out and that’s what I did.”<\/p>\n Why Ram\u00edrez is So Important for the Pirates<\/p>\n Ram\u00edrez threw 32 pitches over two innings, second-most this season in both categories, and served as a key part of a pitching staff that the Pirates need to excel in order to make the postseason. <\/p>\n He has serve as a key, middle-reliever as a right-handed pitcher, which is an important role for the Pirates this season, who don’t have many pitchers out of the bullpen that can go longer than an inning.<\/p>\n Mar 31, 2026; Cincinnati, Ohio, USA; Pittsburgh Pirates relief pitcher Yohan Ramirez (49) pitches against the Cincinnati Reds in the fifth inning at Great American Ball Park. Mandatory Credit: Katie Stratman-Imagn Images | Katie Stratman-Imagn Images<\/p>\n Jos\u00e9 Urquidy is the only other pitcher that can do so, but Ram\u00edrez has been far more effective and is a true relief pitcher, not a starter like Urquidy is.<\/p>\n Ram\u00edrez dropped his ERA down to 1.86 over 9.2 innings over seven appearances this season following this outing, with 11 strikeouts to six walks, a .147 batting average allowed and a 1.14 WHIP.<\/p>\n He had a great showing in the opening series vs. the New York Mets at Citi Field, throwing 2.1 scoreless innings on Opening Day<\/a> on March 26, as he followed Paul Skenes<\/a> not making it out of the first inning, and then 1.2 scoreless innings on March 29, coming in after Carmen Mlodzinski. <\/p>\n Ram\u00edrez did give up a run each in his first two relief outings in the Pirates first homestand, but has comeback with two scoreless appearances.<\/p>\n![\"Pittsburgh](\"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/mlb\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/01kp09yy297zbqgaqhg9.jpg\" "\\"Pittsburgh")
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