Pirates Use Power Surge, Triolo’s Heroics in Comeback Win Over Marlins on Opening Day

The Pittsburgh Pirates led baseball in spring training homers, and they made sure the bats still had some juice left in them for opening day.

The Pirates (1-0) belted three home runs and came back to beat the Miami marlins 6-5 in 12 innings at loanDepot Park on Thursday.

After the two sides traded two scoreless frames to begin extras, it looked like the Pirates would need to hope to see a 13th inning for a chance to win. 

However, with two strikes against him, Jared Triolo lofted a base hit into shallow right field off of Declan Cronin (0-1), which allowed automatic runner Ke’Bryan Hayes to score from second base.

The throw home was cut off and the Pirates ran into an out to end the inning. 

Manager Derek Shelton did not use David Bednar in the bottom of the 12th, instead going with Jose Hernandez. Hernandez made the club with right-hander Roansy Contreras going on the paternity list prior to first pitch. Hernandez kept the Marlins (0-1) off the scoreboard for his first-career save. 

Luis Ortiz (1-0) kept the Marlins off the scoreboard while covering the first two extra innings.

Bryan Reynolds got the power surge started in the top of the third inning with a two-run shot to even the score at 2-all. Reynolds also doubled and drew a walk in the game. 

Bryan Reynolds with the first cannonball of 2024! pic.twitter.com/bwbNkH53yE

— Pittsburgh Pirates (@Pirates) March 28, 2024

The blast was all the Pirates could muster against Marlins starter Jesús Luzardo, who yielded just two hits and struck out eight batters in five innings pitched.

The Marlins eventually regained the lead and were ahead 5-2 heading into the seventh inning. To begin the top of the frame, Edward Olivares pinch hit for first baseman Rowdy Tellez. In his first at-bat with the Pirates, Olivares clobbered a solo home run off of reliever Andrew Nardi. He became the third Pirates’ player since 1900 with a pinch-hit homer in his first at-bat with the team. 

Edward Olivares homers in his first at-bat with the Buccos. pic.twitter.com/JhMwOQOs8I

— Pittsburgh Pirates (@Pirates) March 28, 2024

The Pirates would score one more in the inning when Andrew McCutchen brought home Michael A. Taylor on a groundout to short with the bases loaded.

The following inning, Oneil Cruz went the other way with a solo shot to left field to tie the game 5-5. It was Cruz’s first homer since last year’s opener against the Reds in Cincinnati. 

OPENING DAY CRUZ MISSILE! 🚀 pic.twitter.com/iIJgS2gE0u

— Pittsburgh Pirates (@Pirates) March 28, 2024

Mitch Keller, who was making his second-straight opening day start for the Pittsburgh Pirates, wasn’t quite as sharp as we’ve grown accustom to seeing. 

The Marlins scored five runs — four of which were earned — on seven hits in 5.2 innings against Keller. The right-hander walked a pair, hit a batter and struck out three.

Miami scored the first run of the game when Jake Burger bounced one to Cruz at short. Cruz flipped the ball to Triolo, who rushed to try and turn a double play as the ball kicked out of his glove for an error. In to score on the miscue was Jesus Sànchez.

Tim Anderson, in his first game with the Marlins, followed with an RBI-double to right field.

With the score tied 2-2 in the third, it looked like the Pirates had an easy double-play opportunity against Bryan De La Cruz, but Keller delivered an errant throw to Triolo, who recovered to salvage one out. 

Burger made the Pirates pay two batters later with a two-run single to left field to put Miami back up by a pair. The Marlins’ third baseman added on another in the fifth with a sacrifice fly. 

Burger finished the game 3 for 4 with three RBIs and a run scored. Former Pirate Josh Bell was on base four times. 

Hayes recorded the first hit of the season for the Pirates with a double to left field in the first. He finished the game 2 for 4 with two walks and scored the winning run. 

Up Next

The Pittsburgh Pirates and Miami Marlins will continue their four-game series on Friday night. Martín Pérez will be on the mound in his Pirates’ debut. Fellow left-hander A.J. Puk will start for Miami. First pitch: 7:10 ET.