Pirates
Pirates Walked Off by Marlins Again; Bad Send in 12th
For the second time through the first three games of the season, the Pittsburgh Pirates were walked off by the Miami Marlins at loanDepot Park.
A ball off the bat of Jonah Bride ticked off the glove of Oneil Cruz in center field, loading the bases for the Marlins with nobody out. After the miscue, Tim Mayza (0-1) relieved Joey Wentz and retired the first batter he faced.
But Dane Myers delivered the walk-off blow by lining a scorcher into the right-center gap to sink the Pirates 5-4 on Saturday.
The Pirates had a good chance of scoring in the top of the inning when Bryan Reynolds ripped a single to right field. Third base coach Mike Rabelo made an aggressive send of automatic runner Tommy Pham to try and score the go-ahead run. The gamble didn’t pay off as Pham was easily thrown out, and the Pirates came up empty.
How We Got There
Both teams traded blows throughout the game, with the Pirates (1-2) striking first on a Jack Suwinski RBI double in the top of the first against Valente Bellozo.
It remained a 1-0 game until Xavier Edwards evened the score with a sacrifice fly in the top of the fifth, but the Pirates got the run right back in the top of the sixth when Joey Bart plated Oneil Cruz on a base hit to center. Cruz swiped second base, one of two steals in the game for him and upping his total to four on the season.
After Derek Hill made it a 2-2 game with a double against Pirates starter Bailey Falter in the home-half of the inning, Pittsburgh once again reclaimed the lead on an errant throw from catcher Nick Fortes on an Isiah Kiner-Falefa stolen base attempt. Frazier scored on the play.
The Marlins (2-1) tied the game at 3-apiece in the bottom of the seventh when Otto LĂłpez singled home Edwards against Justin Lawrence, who was making his Pirates’ debut.
Both teams relied on defense in the late innings to push the game to extras. Marlins left fielder Griffin Conine made an unreal leaping grab to rob Suwinski of a go-ahead home run.
GRIFFIN CONINE BRINGS THIS BALL BACK 🤯 pic.twitter.com/hLttjjf0tO
— MLB (@MLB) March 29, 2025
In the bottom of the ninth, Frazier threw a drawn-in Frazier fired home to prevent Kyle Stowers from scoring.
Both teams went scoreless in the 10th inning. Adam Frazier put the Pirates ahead by a run in the top of the 11th on an RBI groundout. Stowers answered for the Marlins in the bottom of the inning.
Key Moment
Rabelo’s questionable decision to send Pham was even more so considering Cruz would have stepped to the plate with runners on the corners and nobody out.
Star of the Game
The hero.
Two wins, two walk-offs!
Dane Myers comes through for the @Marlins! pic.twitter.com/NGXTQFO3XP
— MLB (@MLB) March 29, 2025
Notable Pirates’ Performances
- Bailey Falter: 6.0 innings, seven hits, two runs, no walks, four strikeouts, 87 pitches/56 strikes
- Oneil Cruz: 0 for 2, four walks, one run, two stolen bases
- Isiah Kiner-Falefa: 2 for 3, two walks, two stolen bases
- Joey Bart: 3 for 6, one RBI, one steal
- Bryan Reynolds: 2 for 5, one run, one walk
- Jack Suwinski: 1 for 5, one double, one RBI, one steal
- Adam Frazier: 1 for 5, one RBI, one run
Stat to Know
The Pirates stole six more bases in the loss, giving them 14 through their first three games of the season. That ties the 1984 Cleveland Guardians for the most in the live ball era (since 1920).
Noteworthy
- Oneil Cruz’s four walks (one intentional) set a career-high. He drew three walks in a game on 9/20/22 against the New York Yankees, which was his previous career-high.
- Joey Bart recorded the third stolen base of his career and his first with the Pirates. It was the first time Bart stole a base since 7/24/22 while with the San Francisco Giants.
- OF Joshua Palacos and RHP Peter Strzelecki, who were both designated for assignment, cleared waivers and were outrighted to Triple-A Indianapolis.
Up Next
The Pirates and Marlins will conclude their four-game series on Sunday afternoon. LHP Andrew Heaney will make his Pirates debut opposite RHP Max Meyer. First pitch 1:10 p.m. ET.Â
