Where did you have the bullpen on your bingo card for problems that would help sink the Pirates after the trade deadline?

Pittsburgh’s relievers did a lot of heavy lifting when the Diamondbacks took two of three last weekend to open what was said to be a crucial six-game homestand. After a ho-hum 6-0 loss to kick off a three-game series against the Padres at PNC Park on Tuesday night, the Pirates decided to put their fans through emotional hell over the next 36 hours.

The Bucs battled San Diego hard over eight innings on Wednesday evening and managed to take a 6-5 lead into the top of the ninth. Closer David Bednar came in to put the finishing touches on a big win. Instead, he gave up a home run to tie the game. Pittsburgh managed to load the bases with one out in the bottom of the frame but could not find a way to bring home the winning run. Nope, but the bullpen sure knew how to allow three runs in the top of the 10th inning, as the Pirates went on to lose by a score of 9-8.

The Pirates seemed dead and buried. The only thing left for San Diego was to complete its evil plan of sweeping the Buccos in their own home, something the visitors have become accustomed to over the years–the Padres came into Thursday afternoon’s affair with a 45-28 record at PNC Park. The game began predictably enough with San Diego quickly jumping out to a 4-0 lead.

But much like Will Ferrell in the Austin Powers movies, the Pirates were still clinging to life. They scored three runs in the bottom of the sixth and two more in the seventh to take a 5-4 lead. The advantage held up until Bednar came in again in the top of the ninth to try and salvage the final game of the series.

Instead, the Padres scored three runs before going on to win by a score of 7-6.

Just when you thought the Pirates couldn’t sink any lower, they found another level at the bottom of the Allegheny River and reminded their fans that they still have a long way to go before they’re true contenders.

The Pirates could have easily gone 5-1 during the six-game homestand, a stretch that would have had their fans dreaming of Buctober. Instead, they went 1-5, and their most loyal supporters are now having nightmares about the 2012 collapse.

Make no mistake, the collapse is on. The Pirates are now 2-6 since the July 30 trade deadline and have lost six of their past seven games.

Pittsburgh is now 56-58 and four-and-a-half games back of the final wildcard. That doesn’t seem so bad until you consider that the Cubs and Reds, two teams nobody thinks are serious contenders, are just one-half game behind the Bucs.

Face it, the Pirates are toast, and if you don’t believe me now, wait until their upcoming six-game West Coast road trip that includes three against the Dodgers and three more vs. the Padres.

Instead of the Allegheny River, it looks like the Pirates 2024 battleship will finally sink into the Pacific Ocean.