When closer Felipe Rivero strode to the pitcher’s mound Friday night at PNC Park, tasking with shutting down the final three St. Louis Cardinals, it was his first save opportunity since Sept. 5.
He blew it.
A double and a single tied it. Another single and a fielding error by shortstop Jordy Mercer untied it. Rivero was served his second blown save and the loss in a 4-3 series-opening defeat. In the end, it was Cardinals right-hander Juan Nicasio, the reliever given away by the Pirates late in August, who polished off Pittsburgh by collecting the win and closing out the ninth.