PITTSBURGH -- The Pirates closed the books on their 2021 season Sunday at PNC Park.

It wasn’t a pretty game. At times, it was confusing. But the 6-3 loss to the Reds was a concise encapsulation of their year as a whole, though the Pirates believe the way they finished the year as a whole points to a better future.

Here’s how Game 162 played out, how it reflected the Pirates’ season and where the silver linings may lie.

Pitching battles

The run prevention was shaky for the Pirates, who finished with the third-worst ERA in the Majors (5.08). On Sunday, most of that came in relief, as Cody Ponce gave up four runs in 1 1/3 innings.

But after an up-and-down season, Mitch Keller got to touch the mound one more time before setting off into his offseason programming. He threw three innings with a run allowed, dropping his ERA on the season to 6.17. Manager Derek Shelton, who was ejected from the game for arguing a replay ruling, said the Pirates gave Keller challenges in the start, which Keller said were related to lengthening out his arm through his delivery -- he succeeded.

“It feels really good, having confidence going into the offseason and knowing that’s the way I need to move my body and that’s the way I need to work,” Keller said. “I think if I continue to do that, I’ll have a lot more success.”

Opportunity given, opportunity seized

The hitters largely started and sputtered. Michael Chavis led the way for most of the game with three hits as he filled in for Bryan Reynolds -- who finished the season batting over .300 -- in the No. 3 hole. For the most part, the game reflected the Pirates’ third-worst OPS (.673) in the Majors.

But after being quieted by Reds starter Reiver Sanmartin through six innings with one run allowed, a young Pirate getting his first MLB look stepped up and capitalized on the Major League time he’d been given.

In a two-strike count, Oneil Cruz, the Pirates’ No. 3 prospect, went down to a knee to send a changeup from Mychal Givens -- placed about two balls below the zone -- to the riverwalk in right-center field. The Statcast-projected 408-foot drive was the first MLB homer for the Majors’ No. 52 prospect.

“It’s pretty incredible to see that he has enough power to get it out from there,” Keller said. “He’s just a heck of a player.”

Of the five balls Cruz put in play in his first two Major League games, four were hard hit (95+ mph), and his 118.2 mph single Saturday put him in the top 1% of the Majors in exit velocity.

“It's actually very exciting,” Cruz said via interpreter Mike Gonzalez. “It's something that I've been working very hard for, and to get that right here in the last game ... that's a big deal for me. And I'm very grateful."

Sweepless, but strong finish

The Pirates did not clinch a series sweep this season of two games or more, as their loss Sunday marked the 16th missed opportunity to do so. They became only the sixth team in the divisional era (since 1969) to not secure a sweep of two or more games in a 162-game season, per the Elias Sports Bureau.

With the loss, the Pirates finished 61-101 on the season. That’s not the stat the Bucs are thinking about, though. They’re thinking about how they finished and what they proved to themselves in the process.

Even with a roster marred by Trade Deadline moves and a handful of injuries to key pitchers and hitters, the Pirates finished the season by going 13-12 in their last 25 games. Shelton attributes that to the larger framework the Bucs have built, one that is bigger than any individual player.

“I'm really proud of the culture we've created here,” Shelton said. “We’re moving in the right direction.”