North Shore Nine

The Pittsburgh Pirates defeated Houston today 5-3, almost ruining a good start by Paul Skenes. Pirate tied it in the 8th inning and took their first lead of the day with two outs in the 9th in a fantastic comeback win.

Houston had to go to Taylor Scott as the opener due to trading their scheduled starter before the first pitch. Scott then came in and struck out the side. Leading to the entrance of Paul Skenes for the bottom of the frame. He was unable to strike out the side, however he did manage to strikeout two in a scoreless frame. The second was clear for both teams moving the game quickly onto the 3rd inning. The 3rd inning went much the same as neither team was able to do anything offensively, pushing the game to the 4th. In the 4th Joshua Palacios injured himself on a bunt to 1B, however he managed to stay in the game. The Pirates then flied out and grounded out to end the top of the 4th. While the Astros doubled in the bottom of the frame Skenes was able to keep it dialed in and kept the game scoreless.

In the bottom of the 5th the wheel loosened. Skenes loaded the bases to start the inning, Palacios was also pulled from his injury. He then struck out Trey Cabbage for out one. He then managed to induce what should have been a inning ending double play. However, Ke’Bryan Hayes made a two run error to extend the inning. Skenes then got Alex Bregman to strike out, and got Yordan Alvarez to single into Jose Altuve for the 3rd out.
In the top of the 6th Ji-Hwan Bae had to be helped off the field due to a injury trying to beat out a bunt. Jared Triolo then lined out, however Yasmani Grandal then hit a moon shot for the Pirate first hit of the game cutting the score 2-1. Michael A. Taylor then singled to 3rd keeping the inning alive. Bryan Reynolds then singled to RF putting men on 1st and 2nd for Oneil Cruz. With 2 strikes the Pirates pulled off a double steal to put two ducks on the pond. However in typical Pirate fashion Cruz watched the 3rd strike go by leaving the game at a 2-1 deficit. In the bottom of the frame Houston got a walk, a bad pick off and another walk to put men at 1st and 3rd with one out. A history looked to repeat itself a groundball was hit to Hayes, who this time made a very good play to get the double play and end the threat.
In the top of the 7th the Pirates threated with two outs after Hayes walked and stole 2nd. However Connor Joe grounded out as Hayes was in motion for 3rd ending the top of the frame. In the bottom of the inning Pirates got two outs on throws to 2nd base. One to start the frame on a failed stretch of a single into a double. Then again to end the frame when Altuve tried to steal on a past ball. The game then went to the 8th with the score still 2-1 Houston.
Jared Triolo started the 8th with a double to the gap. Two quick outs threatened disappointment for Pirates fans. However, a Reynolds walk preceded a Cruz double which knotted the game 2. Rowdy Tellez then walked to load the bases for Joey Bart with two outs still in the frame. However a fly out to centerfield ended the Pirate threat. Aroldis Chapman came on in the bottom of the 8th, for potentially the last time in a Pirate uniform. He was able to battle through a broken bat single and an error from Cruz to keep the game tied going into the 9th.
Hayes walked to start the 9th. Joe could have walked had he left off the down and in sliders. Triolo walked putting men on 1st and 2nd with one out bring up Grandal. Who flies out to the left fielder. On what should have been ball 2 to Taylor the Pirates completed their 2nd double steal of the night. The very next pitch, Magic, Michael A. Taylor hit a absolute blast deep into the left field night giving the Pirates a 5-2 lead. David Bednar came in to pitch the ninth looking for the save. After a quick 1st out Bednar made it interesting. A single to center and a walk put two men on with one out and the tying run at the plate in Jose Altuve. Who promptly singles to load the bases. Bednar was then able to get Alex Bregman to lineout to Taylor in centerfield. Bednar then pitched around Alvarez allowing a run to score and bring up Diaz with the tying run on 2nd. Bednar was able to bare down and get a pop out to Cruz at short to win the game in dramatic style.

The Pirates will be back in action tomorrow evening against the Astro’s. Bailey Falter is expected to start for the Pirates, he is expected to go up against Hunter Brown of Houston.