Pirates Tied for 9th, Score 4 in 10th to Beat Diamondbacks | News, Sports, Jobs

TIP OF THE CAP — Andrew McCutchen, left, shakes hands and tips his helmet to first base coach Tarrik Brock, right, after hitting a single during Sunday’s game against the Diamondbacks. — Associated Press

PHOENIX — Ji Hwan Bae scored the game-tying run on a wild pitch in Pittsburgh’s 10th inning, Joey Bart hit a tying run-scoring double in the ninth and the Pirates came back to beat the Arizona Diamondbacks 6-5 on Sunday.

The teams combined on five hits in eight innings, with Arizona leading 2-1 entering the ninth inning.

Then things got wild.

Rowdy Tellez, who sat out Saturday night with back spasms, entered as a pinch hitter in the ninth inning and led off with a double against Paul Sewald. Bart followed with a two-out double to tie the score. The blown save was Sewald’s fourth in 20 chances.

“That was awesome — they both came off the bench and hit lasers,” said Pirates right fielder Jared Triolo, who made a diving catch to end the ninth inning.

Bae led off the 10th inning with a bunt single and Justin Martinez (4-2) walked Yasmani Grandal to load the bases. After Arizona catcher Jose Herrera caught just enough of the plate to get a forceout — which was overturned on review — Martinez unleashed a wild pitch that scored the speedy Bae.

Martinez then hit Alika Williams with a pitch to score another run, and Ke’Bryan Hayes made it 6-2 with a bloop single for two runs.

“I think this is our biggest win,” Pirates manager Derek Shelton said. “To come back from where we were, the way Mitch (Keller) pitched, just to keep pushing through it.”

It wasn’t over yet.

Arizona’s Eugenio Suárez hit a two-run homer off Colin Holderman in the 10th inning that was upheld after review — Pirates left fielder Joshua Palacios thought a fan had interfered with him — and pinch hitter Lourdes Gurriel Jr. hit a solo shot with two outs that curled just inside the left foul pole.

Corbin Carroll followed with a triple to the right corner, but Holderman grounded out Geraldo Perdomo to end the game.

“These are the games that give you sleepless nights for people in my position,” Diamondbacks manager Torey Lovullo said. “I’m sure everyone on this team feels the same way, but when you unpack it, I want to make sure we learn and grow from what happened.”

Oneil Cruz hit a home run for the second straight game and Aroldis Chapman (3-4) turned in a perfect ninth inning for the Pirates.

It was a duel between pitchers, leading up to the fireworks in the final phase.

Arizona starting pitcher Yilber Diaz allowed one hit in five scoreless innings, with seven strikeouts and four hits.

Cruz hit Joe Mantiply’s third pitch to right for his 17th home run, a day after hitting a 472-foot shot. It ended Mantiply’s streak of not allowing a home run in 59 2/3 innings.

Keller allowed two runs on three hits in six innings, with five strikeouts and two walks.

“There were some good things, but the things we didn’t do well, we definitely need to improve,” Lovullo said.

TRAINER’S TABLE

Pirates: 2B Nick Gonzales was placed on the 10-day injured list after leaving Saturday’s game with left groin discomfort. Pittsburgh recalled Williams from Triple-A Indianapolis to fill his spot on the roster.

Diamondbacks:

NEXT ONE

Pirates: All-Star RHP Paul Skenes (6-1, 1.93 ERA) is expected to pitch Monday to start a three-game series at Houston.

Diamondbacks: LHP Jordan Montgomery (7-5, 6.11) starts the opening game of a three-game series against Washington on Monday.