Pittsburgh Pirates Come Back In Late Innings To Defeat Diamondbacks
While the Diamondbacks struck first on the scoreboard at Chase Field in Arizona, the Pittsburgh Pirates scored last as they captured the second game of their four-game set 9-4 on Friday night.
The Bucs are in second place in the National League Central Division with a record of 58-51, just 2.5 games behind the first-place Milwaukee Brewers. They have 27 comeback wins on the season.
The Jolly Roger crew erupted for eight of their runs and claimed 10 of their 13 hits in the contest over the last two innings.
After striking out four times the night before,Josh Harrisonled the charge as he tripled with one away in the eighth and doubled with one down in the ninth. He came around to score both times, including the go-ahead score in the ninth onJordy Mercer‘s double.
Andrew McCutchenbroke out of his slump by driving in the first run of the Bucs’ three-run eighth with a double.Pedro Alvarezkept the scoring barrage going when he blasted a two-run, pinch-hit double off D-backs rookie left-handerEury De La Rosato tie the game at 4-4. It was the perfect way to greet the month of August as it was Alvarez’s first RBI since July 12.
More from Pittsburgh Pirates
- Pittsburgh Pirates: A Look Back at 2019
- Pirates: Hiring Don Kelly Yet Another Smart Offseason Move
- Pirates’ Solid Offseason Continues with Hiring of Derek Shelton
- Pirates: Derek Shelton Makes Most Sense As Next Manager
- Pirates: Drew Smyly Makes Sense as Potential High-Reward Signing
The comeback fun continued in the ninth as Mercer doubled off rookie righthanderBo Schultzwith only one out in the ninth to bring Harrison across the plate. It was just the third appearance for Schultz this season in the majors.
The Pirates were not finished assaulting the scoreboard as pinch-hitterMichael Martinezdrove in a run with a single to center andRussell Martinsingled to left to push another run across the plate. Then, it wasTravis Snider‘s turn as he singled for two more on a sharp ground ball to right field.
Arizona had jumped out to a 4-0 lead onEnder Inciarte‘s three-run homer off Pirates starterEdinson Volquezin the fifth. The righthander gave up an additional run on a wild pitch later in the same frame.
Volquez gave up three earned runs on seven hits while walking two and striking out five on 100 pitches over 5 2/3 innings of work.
Justin Wilsonwent 1 1/3 innings whileTony Watson, andErnesto Frierieach worked one inning out of the bullpen with Watson picking up his eighth win of the season against one loss.
Pittsburgh got on the score sheet with their first run in the top of the sixth whenGaby Sanchezsingled to left to drive in Mercer off D-backs starterVidal Nuno. The left-handed former Washington Wild Things pitcher went six innings for Arizona, giving up one earned run on three hits while walking two and striking out five on 91 pitches.
The Bucs move to the third game of their four-game set with Arizona tonight. The first pitch is scheduled at 8:10 p.m. Eastern. The Diamondbacks will send righthanderChase Anderson(6-4, 3.34 ERA) to the hill while Pittsburgh will counter withVance Worley(4-1, 2.54 ERA).
The 26-year-old righthander will be making his eighth start and ninth appearance this evening. He has been charged with only one earned run in his last two starts. The game will be broadcast by Root Sports Pittsburgh.