Pirates Avoid Sweep With Comeback Win Over Diamondbacks in 10 Innings

On the brink of getting swept, the Pittsburgh Pirates came back to tie the Arizona Diamondbacks in the top of the ninth and hung on for a 6-5 win in 10 innings at Chase Field on Sunday. 

The Pirates (53-52) started the game 0 for 9 with runners in scoring position but pinch hitter Joey Bart finally came through in the ninth with a two-out RBI double after Rowdy Tellez led off the inning with a pinch-hit double. 

In the top of the 10th, Ji Hwan Bae scored on a wild pitch to give the Pirates their first lead of the game. After Oneil Cruz was intentionally walked, Alika Williams was hit by a pitch with the bases loaded to force in another run. Williams entered the previous inning as a pinch runner for Tellez.

Ke’Bryan Hayes padded the Pirates’ lead by driving in a pair of what ended up to be big insurance runs with a single to left field.

There's a Hayes warning in Phoenix. pic.twitter.com/WZLpQRHaTH

— Pittsburgh Pirates (@Pirates) July 28, 2024

Eugenio Suárez led off the bottom of the 10th by hitting a fly ball to deep left field. Joshua Palacios looked camped under the ball at the fence to make the catch but a fan reached his glove out over Palacios, resulting in what was ruled a home run. After a review, the call was upheld.

After retiring the next two batters, Holderman surrendered a solo home run to Lourdes Gurriel Jr. to bring Arizona within a run. Corbin Carroll then roped a triple to right, but Holderman retired Geraldo Perdomo to end the game.

All four runs were charged to Justin Martinez (4-2). Aroldis Chapman (3-4) got the win for the Pirates with a scoreless ninth inning. 

Mitch Keller held the Diamondbacks (55-51) to a pair of runs on two hits in seven innings pitched. He walked two batters, struck out six and threw 61 of his 97 pitches for strikes.

It marked the second-straight start in which the reliable Keller has worked at least seven innings and the third in his last four outings. 

Jake McCarthy tripled home Joc Pederson for the first run of the game in the fourth. Suárez then drove in McCarthy to put Arizona ahead 2-0. 

Diamondbacks rookie Yilber Diaz walked four but allowed just one hit across five innings pitched and held the Pirates scoreless across his five innings on the mound. 

Cruz got the Pirates on the board in the sixth inning with a solo home run off of left-hander Joe Mantiply. It was Cruz’s second homer in as many games and 17th of the season, which matches his career-high from 2022.

CRUUUUUUUZ 💣 pic.twitter.com/DR9vcEyiX3

— Pittsburgh Pirates (@Pirates) July 28, 2024

Up Next

The Pirates will head to Houston for the start of a three-game series against the Astros on Monday. Rookie sensation Paul Skenes (6-1, 1.93) will start opposite fellow 2023 draftee Jake Bloss (0-1, 6.94). First pitch: 8:10 ET.

News and Notes

• After manager Derek Shelton emptied the bench in the ninth, Jared Triolo was forced to play right field for the first time in his career. He ended the bottom of the inning with an excellent diving catch in shallow right-center.
• The Pirates placed second baseman Nick Gonzales on the 10-day injured list and recalled infielder Alika Williams from Triple-A Indianapolis.