Falter Delivers Second-Straight Strong Start, Bednar Seals Pirates’ Win Over Phillies

Bailey Falter had another strong outing for the Pittsburgh Pirates and David Bednar closed out the 5-2 win over the Philadelphia Phillies at Citizens Bank Park on Friday night.

Falter (1-0) worked five strong innings against the Phillies (7-7) , holding his former team to just one run on four hits. He did not walk a batter and struck out three. 

Pirates’ starters have gone 22.1 consecutive innings without issuing a free pass, the second time they’ve had a streak that long since 2000. The other was a 30.1 inning stretch in 2001. 

The Phillies’ lone run against Falter came in the fifth inning. With Brandon Marsh standing on third, Bryson Stott hit a high chopper in front of the mound and legged out an infield single.

Falter had gone 10-straight innings without allowing a run dating back to his last start. It was the longest stretch of his career. 

Aroldis Chapman relieved Josh Fleming in the eighth inning with two runners on. Chapman walked a pair, the second of which pushed in a run, but struck out Marsh to end the threat and keep the Pirates ahead 5-2. 

Bednar had blown three of his first four save opportunities to begin the season, but closed out the win by tossing a 1-2-3 ninth inning. Notably, the two-time All-Star showed much-improved command.

The Pirates (10-4) took advantage of an error by pitcher Cristopher Sánchez (0-2) on a Michael A. Taylor grounder. The Pirates eventually loaded the bases against the Phillies’ left-hander and Henry Davis drew a two-out walk to bring in a run and give Pittsburgh a 1-0 lead. 

With runners on the corners and two outs in the fourth, it looked like Connor Joe bounced out to end the inning. However, shortstop Trea Turner slipped and the ball made its way into left field for an RBI-single. 

The Pirates manufactured a third unconventional run in the seventh inning. With runners at second and third, Yunior Marte delivered a 98 mph fastball to Ke’Bryan Hayes. There was a cross-up with catcher JT Realmuto and the ball, which was called strike three, ricocheted off of Realmuto and allowed Davis to score from third base. The Phillies’ backstop was banged up but remained in the game.

Davis gave the Pirates an insurance run in the eighth inning into the left field corner. Jared Triolo broke from first on the 3-2 offering and came all the way around to score. Two batters later, Bryan Reynolds singled home Davis to put the Pirates up 5-1. 

Henry Davis Insurance Co. pic.twitter.com/2GfOT9az8y

— Pittsburgh Pirates (@Pirates) April 13, 2024

Joe, Reynolds, Triolo and Davis all had two hits. Triolo and Davis were each on base three times.

Up Next

The Pirates and Phillies will reconvene on Saturday for the third game of this four-game series. Marco Gonzales (0-0, 2.45 ERA) will make his third start after two good ones to start the year. Spencer Turnbull (1-0, 0.00 ERA) will start for Philadelphia. First pitch: 4:05 ET.