Sliding catch saves SF, score 2 in 10th to beat Bucs

PITTSBURGH (93.7 The Fan) – After the Pirates fought back to tie the game, and if not for a sliding catch would have won it in the ninth, the Giants scored a pair of runs in the 10^th inning to win game two of the series Wednesday night 5-4. That knocked the Bucs 5.5 games back of the final NL Wild Card spot.

Giants advanced the courtesy runner to third and after a walk, an RBI double by Bryce Eldridge and sacrifice fly by Turner Hill gave San Fran a 5-3 lead of Camilo Doval.

Bucs scored immediately in the bottom of the 10^th on a Nick Gonzales RBI single, but Oneil Cruz struck out swinging against Dylan Smith, Esmerlyn Valdez struck out looking and Rafael Flores lined out to center.

Working back

The Bucs scored a run in the seventh on an RBI groundout by Spencer Horwitz, a run in the eighth on an RBI single by Cruz. Bryan Reynolds nearly won it with a two-out hit to left with Jacob Gonzalez at third, but a sliding catch by Hill in left field forced a 10^th inning.

Bubba

Pirates 23-year-old righty Bubba Chandler gave up a solo home run in the first inning to Rafael Devers and really some bad breaks to give up two in the fifth. Following a leadoff double, Chandler got a comebacker and got the lead runner, although the batter got to second. After a walk, Devers popped out to shallow right-center, but miscommunication between Oneil Cruz and Esmerlyn Valdez allowed the ball to drop to load the bases. A sacrifice fly, that should have ended the inning was followed by an RBI single to make it 3-1.

Final line—5 innings, 5 hits, 3 earned runs, 3 walks, 4 strikeouts, ERA now 4.30

Bullpen

• Brandon Eisert (recalled Tuesday)-scoreless inning
• Carmen Mlodzinski—3 perfect innings with 2 strikeouts
• Camilo Doval—gave up an unearned and earned run in 10^th

Hot and Cold

Valdez drove in his 45^th run on a walk in the fourth inning, but was caught looking with runners on first and third and two outs in the sixth inning. The 22-year-old has three RBI in his last three games.

Konnor Griffin update

After a hitless night in his first AAA rehab game Tuesday, shortstop Konnor Griffin had a pair of singles and a walk in five at bats on Wednesday at Toledo. It’s still expected Griffin rejoins the team on Friday when he is eligible to come off the injured list.

Minor League News

• Lefty Hunter Barco 5 innings, 6 hits, 3 runs, walk, 6 strikeouts in AAA
• Pirates 2^nd ranked prospect Edward Florentino hit his 23^rd HR at High A this year
• 20-year-old right-hander Levi Sterling 5 innings, 2 hits, 2 runs, walk, 9 strikeouts, 2 homers allowed for High A Greensboro

Up Next

Afternoon baseball to finish the series with RHP Blade Tidwell (0-1, 4.54 ERA) starting for the Giants against a pitcher to be announced for the Pirates. It would be Jared Jones’ spot, but they gave him an extra day of rest and he will begin the Angels series on Friday. Paul Alexander has the North Shore Tavern Leadoff Show at 11:35 on NewsRadio 1020 and 100.1 FM KDKA with first pitch at 12:35p.