Stepping into the manager's seat for the first time is never easy, but for Kristopher Negron, his debut as acting manager of the Pittsburgh Pirates was a night to forget. With regular skipper Don Kelly serving a one-game suspension, Negron watched from the dugout as the Arizona Diamondbacks dismantled the Pirates 9-0 at Chase Field on Tuesday night.

The lopsided loss was a harsh comedown for Pittsburgh, which had just swept the Cincinnati Reds in a three-game series at home. The defeat opened a six-game road trip on the wrong foot, and the Pirates couldn't muster much offense against Diamondbacks starter Eduardo Rodriguez and two relievers, who combined for a two-hit shutout.

The drama began earlier Tuesday when Major League Baseball handed down discipline for an incident last Saturday. Kelly and reliever Chris Devenski were suspended after Devenski was ejected and fined for intentionally throwing at Reds infielder Sal Stewart. Devenski's initial three-game ban was reduced to two following negotiations between the MLBPA and the league, meaning he'll miss Wednesday's game but return for Thursday's series finale. Both Kelly and Devenski were also fined undisclosed amounts.

Devenski, who has pitched for nine major-league teams since debuting with the Houston Astros in 2016, has appeared in three games for the Pirates this season, allowing two runs and five hits over 2 1/3 innings. With the roster short-handed, Pittsburgh played with 25 active players on Tuesday and will do the same Wednesday.

For Negron, the opportunity came with little notice. He learned Monday night—before the suspensions were officially announced—that he'd be managing the next day. Kelly expressed confidence in his bench coach before the game. "He just was hoping he got some sleep last night. He's ready to roll. He's involved in every meeting. He's involved in all the decisions. So, he's well prepared," Kelly told reporters in Phoenix.

Negron, 40, brings a wealth of baseball experience to his role. He spent the previous four seasons as a base coach with the Seattle Mariners, following a stint managing their Triple-A Tacoma affiliate to a Pacific Coast League championship in 2021. As a player, Negron logged six seasons in the majors from 2012 to 2019, suiting up for the Reds, Diamondbacks, Mariners, and Los Angeles Dodgers. A versatile utility player, he posted a .221/.291/.336 slash line with nine home runs over 170 career games.

While Tuesday's result wasn't what Negron or the Pirates hoped for, the bench coach's deep understanding of the game—from his playing days to his coaching and managerial experience—makes him a steady hand in a pinch. For Pittsburgh, the focus now shifts to bouncing back and closing out the series in Arizona before moving on to the next stop on their road trip.