Bailey Falter carried his lack of control into the regular season, allowing two walks and a grand slam in the first to put the Bucs in a 5-0 hole.
Quickly, this game felt like one that if the Pirates were going to stay in it, it was going to be an uphill climb.
The climb started in the second inning, where the Pirates fought back for three runs, two of which coming off of a misplay in the outfield resulting in an Alika Williams triple. Bryan Reynolds added the third on an infield single.
Falter then settled down and got through the fourth inning, only allowing one more run on an Avisail Garcia homer.
Ke’Bryan Hayes added another hit, and drove in Connor Joe in the 4th.
The Bucs kept fighting into the 7th inning, Ke’Bryan Hayes walked and Edward Olivares singled to set up Rowdy Tellez. Tellez worked a 9-pitch at bat, fouling off three 3-2 pitches before he hit a 425-foot, 3-run, go-ahead homer. Tellez’s first as a Pirate.
The Pirates then turned the game over to their bullpen. Ryan Borucki and Aroldis Chapman both worked clean innings, both striking out two batters.
Nick Gordon pinch hit for Nick Fortes and hit a game-tying home run off of David Bednar. Bednar finished the inning after the blown save.
The top of the 10th inning was a bunting clinic. First Alika Williams tried to sacrifice, but the ball was fumbled by the Marlins and Oneil Cruz advanced to third, Williams safe at first. Jason Delay then pushed a perfect bunt down the first base line, scoring Cruz.
Later in the inning, Michael A. Taylor worked a bases-loaded walk to score Alika Williams, providing a 2-run lead for Hunter Stratton.
Stratton gave up a hit to Josh Bell in the bottom of the 10th, and then shut the door, striking out Jazz Chisholm Jr. to complete the sweep.
Feels like the Buccos stole one here, but will head north to Washington at 4-0 and atop the NL Central.
The Jolly Roger is Risen, Happy Easter everyone.
As always, join fellow Pirates fans in the North Shore Nine Discord.
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