PITTSBURGH (93.7 The Fan) - Spencer Horwitz got hit by a pitch with the bases loaded in the bottom of the 8th and the Pirates beat the Marlins 3-2 Saturday afternoon at PNC Park.
A hit by pitch and a walk put runners on first and second with nobody out in the bottom of the first inning for Pittsburgh. After Bryan Reynolds struck out, Ryan O'Hearn singled home Spencer Horwitz to get the Pirates on the board first. A fielder's choice out at second base and fly out to right field ended the inning.
Jakob Marsee lined a double to right field in the top of the third inning. Javier Sanoja moved him over to third on a ground out. After Bubba Chandler struck out Connor Norby with a slider away, a 101 mph fastball got lined to left field by Liam Hicks to tie the game 1-1.
The lefty John King entered the game for the Fish in relief of the opener Lake Bachar in the bottom of the third inning. Horwitz singled to lead off the inning. After a fly out to right field from Brandon Lowe, Bryan Reynolds rocketed a double to the center field wall to bring home Horwitz from first to give Pittsburgh a 2-1 lead. Reynolds now has a 20 game on base streak.
Reynolds robbed a third home run this week as he bunny hopped at the left field wall to bring back a game tying home run from Heriberto Hernández. He took one away from Shohei Ohtani and Mookie Betts in the Dodgers series earlier this week.
Calvin Faucher entered the game for Miami in the bottom of the 4th and then left handed Cade Gibson entered the game to face Horwitz with two on and two outs. He rolled over a grounder to first to end the inning.
Chandler struck out Hicks and then walked his first batter of the game in the top of the 6th inning. Xavier Edwards reached on a fielder's choice for the second out at second base. A 2-2 pitch from Chandler missed inside for ball 3 but Miami challenged that it hit Kyle Stowers back foot and the challenge was successful. Don Kelly pulled Chandler and brought in the left handed throwing Mason Montgomery. Hernández lined a single to left field to tie the game 2-2.
Chandler finished the day pitching 5.2 innings, allowing 2 runs on 3 hits, he walked 1 and struck out 6 in a no decision.
"I thought Bubba threw the ball great, he was in control with the fastball, offspeed, he mixed in offspeed early in the count for strikes. In the 6th inning he started to overthrow and get outside of himself, the command wasn't there like it was at the beginning of the game, he had the walk and hit by pitch. It felt like the best matchup was to go with Montgomery," said Kelly after the game.
A lead off walk, followed by a single gave Pittsburgh first and second with nobody out in the bottom of the sixth inning. Michael Petersen came in to relieve Gibson. Jake Mangum popped up to third base, Jared Triolo struck out looking and Horwitz struck out swinging to keep the game tied.
Otto López began the top of the 8th with a single off Yohan Ramirez and then Edwards walked, but Ramirez was able to escape two on and nobody out.
Callihan singled with two outs in the bottom of the 8th and the Pirates executed a perfect hit and run. The shortstop went to cover second and Mangum hit the ball where he would have been standing had the Pirates not sent Callihan. Mangum stole second with Triolo up and 2 outs. Triolo walked to load the bases for Horwitz. Anthony Bender threw a 97 mph heater off the right shin of Horwitz to give the Pirates a 3-2 lead. Lowe grounded out to send the game to the 9th.
"They grinded those at bats out, found a way to score a run. Bender is tough, the sweeper/slider he's got is an elite pitch, the way we were able to battle there in that inning and find a way to get guys on base, put the ball in play. Spence unfortunately had to wear one to get that run in but that was a huge inning," said Kelly.
Miami pinch hit Esteury Ruiz. He hit a single to left field and then stole second. Sanoja grounded to shortstop and Ruiz broke for third and got hung up for a fielder's choice. Sanoja reached second during the run down for Ruiz. Soto struck out Norby with a slider for out number two. Hicks checked-swing and put the ball in play, Soto threw him out at first to end the game.
The Pirates snapped Miami's 6 game win streak and are now back over .500 at 36-35. Rubber match is Sunday afternoon at 1:35. Paul Skenes (6-5 2.84) vs Max Meyer (6-0, 2.85).
Bryan Reynolds robbed his third home run this week.
Bryan Reynolds robbed his third home run this week.
