Pirates Walked-Off: Germán Answers Call But Bucs Doomed by Squander Chances

Domingo Germán delivered an excellent spot start but the Pittsburgh Pirates fell 1-0 to the Texas Rangers on a Wyatt Lanford walk-off single at Globe Life Field on Wednesday. 

Recap

The Pirates (59-67) had plenty of chances to score but went 0 for 6 with runners in scoring position and left 10 runners on base.

Like the Pirates, the Rangers (59-69) were unable to capitalize on their chances until the ninth inning. Jonah Heim and Adolis García hit back-to-back singles off of David Bednar to open the bottom of the ninth. 

With two outs, Wyatt Langford fought off an inside fastball from Bednar (3-6) and drove it into center field for a walk-off single. 

In his first big-league start in over a calendar year, Germán delivered six-shutout innings for the Pirates. The right-hander battled some control issues with four walks but limited the Rangers to three hits and struck out four.

Key Moment

The Pirates already had the bases full twice and came up empty, but another big opportunity arose in the seventh. With two on and nobody out, leadoff hitter Isiah Kiner-Falefa squared to bunt but pulled back and swung away. He lined one right at the drawn-in Nathaniel Lowe at first base, who caught the ball and ran to first for a double play.

Star of the Game

Good pitching performances from both German and Rangers starter Andrew Heaney — five-shutout innings, eight strikeouts — but Langford was the hero.

Stat to Know

Prior to allowing Texas to win in the ninth, the Pirates had gone 22-straight innings without allowing a run dating back to the fourth inning on Monday. That was the Pirates’ longest streak since 2015.

Up Next

The Pirates return home to start a four-game series with the Reds on Thursday night. Paul Skenes (7-2, 2.30 ERA) will look for back-to-back wins in the start for Pittsburgh. The Reds haven’t announced a starter. First pitch: 6:40 ET.