9th Inning Drama: Taylor Homers, Pirates Beat Astros

Michael A. Taylor’s three-run home run off of Josh Hader in the top of the ninth lifted the Pittsburgh Pirates to a 5-3 win over the Houston Astros at Minute Maid Park on Monday night.

With the score tied 2-all in the top of the ninth, the Pirates (54-52) had two on and two out with Taylor at the plate. Taylor connected on a 421-foot home run on a 1-1 sinker left over the plate from Hader (4-6) to put the Pirates ahead by three.

OH MY, MICHAEL A. TAYLOR 🤯 pic.twitter.com/8nJtpGfmaB

— Pittsburgh Pirates (@Pirates) July 30, 2024

Taylor was not in the original starting lineup but entered the game in the fifth inning after Joshua Palacios exited with an injury.

Aroldis Chapman (4-4) earned the win for the second-straight game after tossing a scoreless eighth inning. David Bednar walked Yordan Alvarez with the bases loaded and two outs but retired Yainer Diaz for his 19th save of the season.

It marked the second-straight game in which the Pirates erased a two-run deficit to tie the game late and pull out a comeback win. On Sunday, the Pirates came from behind to defeat the Arizona Diamondbacks in 10 innings.

Trailing 2-1 in the top of the eight inning, Oneil Cruz ripped a 119.3 mph double to right field to score Jared Triolo, who led off with a double.

Paul Skenes delivered another strong start for the Pirates. Skenes allowed two runs (one earned) across six innings pitched. He allowed five hits, walked three batters and struck out six.

The star rookie struck out Jon Singleton in the second inning, his third strikeout of the game and the 100th of his brief career. Skenes became just the sixth pitcher since 1893 to reach 100 career strikeouts in 13 games or fewer.

Both runs for the Astros (55-51) against Skenes came on one swing. With the bases loaded, Jose Altuve grounded one to third baseman Ke’Bryan Hayes. The ball took an in-between hop and skipped past Hayes and into left field, allowing a pair of runs to score.

Tayler Scott and Kaleb Ort combined to retire the Pirates’ first 17 batters in order before Yasmani Grandal broke up the perfect game bid with a solo home run to right field to get the Pirates on the board.

Up Next

Bailey Falter (4-7, 4.08) was activated off the injured list and will start for the Pirates on Tuesday night. Hunter Brown (9-6, 4.00) will be on the mound for the Astros. First pitch: 8:10 ET. 

News and Notes

• Joshua Palacios exited the game with left hamstring in the bottom of the fifth inning. Ji Hwan Bae also left the game with left knee discomfort in the sixth. Both injuries occurred when trying to beat out a play at first base
• During the game, the Pirates acquired left-handed pitcher Jalen Beeks from the Colorado Rockies for pitching prospect Luis Peralta.
• Earlier in the day, the Pirates traded right-handed pitcher Quinn Priester to the Boston Red Sox for infielder Nick Yorke. Yorke was assigned to Triple-A Indianapolis.
• Outfielder Jack Suwinski was optioned to Indianapolis to make room for Bryan Reynolds’ return from the Bereavement List.
• Right-hander Jake Bloss was scheduled to start for the Astros but was part of a trade package in exchange for the Toronto Blue Jays’ Yusei Kikuchi.