The Giants entered this game having won 11 of their last 14 games. They had also won their last game which was the first of this three game series 14-4. The Pirates on the other hand came into this game riding a three game losing streak. The Pirates also came into this game in the midst of an atrocious month of May in which they had gone 6-18 so far. This past loss to the Giants put the Pirates a game under .500 despite being one of the best teams in the league throughout the first month of the season. Both teams would look to keep themselves in contention with a win in this one. The starting lineup for the Giants was LaMonte Wade Jr. (1B), Mike Yastrzemski (CF), J.D. Davis (3B), Michael Conforto (RF), Mitch Haniger (LF), Blake Sabol (DH), Casey Schmitt (2B), Patrick Bailey (C), Brandon Crawford (SS). John Brebbia would take the mound as an opener for the Giants as Sean Manaea would basically make his start. You could also expect to see Jakob Junis coming in for some of the middle innings to bridge the gap for the Giants. The Pirates lineup was Andrew McCutchen (RF), Tucupita Marcano (SS), Connor Joe (1B), Jack Suwinski (LF), Ke’Bryan Hayes (3B), Ji Hwan Bae (CF), Rodolfo Castro (2B), Jason Delay (C), Josh Palacios (DH). Johan Oviedo was the starter for Pittsburgh and would look to improve on his 4.70 ERA. If Oviedo and the Pirates were going to win this game they’d need to shut down the Giants offense and get their offense going. If the Giants were going to win this one they’d need their bullpen to come through once more and they’d need to keep hitting well. Would the Giants keep rolling or would the Pirates get away from their recent struggles? To the game!
To start the game Andrew McCutchen struck out swinging on 6 pitches. Then Tucupita Marcano lined out to Mike Yastrzemski in center. Connor Joe followed this up with a homer to left on the 7th pitch of the at bat. Sean Manaea then replaced John Brebbia and struck out Jack Suwinski to end the inning. LaMonte Wade Jr. led off the game with a pop out to Ke’Bryan Hayes. Mike Yastrzemski and J.D. Davis then drew back to back walks. Michael Conforto then singled down the left field line past the diving glove of Hayes to score Yastrzemski and move Davis to second. Mitch Haniger then grounded into a double play to end the inning.
Ke’Bryan Hayes led off the top of the second with a soft line out to Michael Conforto. Ji Hwan Bae then lined out to Mitch Haniger in left. Rodolfo Castro grounded out to Casey Schmitt to end a clean inning for Sean Manaea. Blake Sabol led off the bottom of the second with a walk before Casey Schmitt popped out. Patrick Bailey then grounded out and Sabol advanced to second as he was stealing on the pitch. Brandon Crawford then struck out to end the inning.
To start the third inning, Jason Delay struck out swinging and Josh Palacios lined out to Mike Yastrzemski. Andrew McCutchen then singled before Tucupita Marcano popped out to end the inning. LaMonte Wade Jr. grounded out to start the bottom half. Back to back walks from Yastrzemski and Davis put runners on for Conforto who advanced the runners with a ground out. Mitch Haniger then grounded out to end the inning.
Sean Manaea had a quick fourth inning after Connor Joe grounded out, Jack Suwinski singled, and Ke’Bryan Hayes grounded into an inning ending double play. Blake Sabol started the bottom of the fourth with a leadoff infield single. Casey Schmitt then flew out to Ji Hwan Bae in center field. A pair of strikeouts from Patrick Bailey and Brandon Crawford ended the inning.
Ji Hwan Bae led off the fifth inning by striking out swinging. A pair of singles from Rodolfo Castro and Jason Delay put runners on second and third following an error by Mitch Haniger. Castro then scored and Delay went to third on a costly wild pitch from Manaea. Josh Palacios reached base after Delay was thrown out trying to score on a grounder to LaMonte Wade Jr. Ryan Walker then replaced Sean Manaea before Patrick Bailey back picked Palacios to end the inning. LaMonte Wade Jr. hit a leadoff double off the bottom of the wall. Mike Yastrzemski then struck out swinging on six pitches. Oviedo was taken out for Dauri Moreta following this. J.D. Davis immediately walked and he and Wade Jr. were advanced to second and third on a fly out from Michael Conforto. Mitch Haniger was not able to capitalize on the opportunity as he grounded out to third. The Pirates led 2-1 after the fifth inning due to some sloppy play from the Giants.
Andrew McCutchen led off the inning with a walk and advanced to second on a Tucupita Marcano groundout. Connor Joe then lined out to J.D. Davis at third prompting Ryan Walker to be taken out for Scott Alexander. The veteran lefty struck out Jack Suwinski to end the inning. Blake Sabol hit a leadoff single to start the bottom half of the frame. Casey Schmitt then struck out swinging before a Pirates pitching change. Jose Hernandez replaced Dauri Moreta and got out of the inning with a bit of luck as Patrick Bailey hit a hard line drive at Connor Joe who caught the ball and stepped on first for the inning ending double play.
Ke’Bryan Hayes and Ji Hwan Bae had back to back groundouts to start the seventh. Rodolfo Castro singled which led to Jakob Junis being put in for Scott Alexander. Junis ended the inning by getting Jason Delay to strike out swinging. Austin Slater pinch hit for Brandon Crawford and led off the bottom of the seventh by popping out to the catcher in foul territory. LaMonte Wade Jr. then walked before Mike Yastrzemski flew out to center. Colin Holderman came into the game replacing Jose Hernandez right after this. J.D Davis then grounded into a force out to end the inning.
Brett Wisely played second base in replacement of Slater and Schmitt moved to short. Josh Palacios led off the eighth inning with a walk. Andrew McCutchen then advanced the runner with a groundout and Tucupita Marcano struck out. Connor Joe the struck out looking to end the inning. To start the bottom of the eighth Michael Conforto reached on an infield single. Mitch Haniger then struck out swinging on a full count. Blake Sabol followed that up with a fly out to center. Casey Schmitt then flew out to center to end the inning.
Taylor Rogers came in for Jakob Junis to pitch the ninth. Bryce Johnson also came in as a defensive replacement in center forcing Yastrzemski to right and replacing Conforto. Rogers had an impressive ninth as he struck out the side on 15 pitches. David Bednar came into the game in hopes of getting the save. He relieved Colin Holderman. Patrick Bailey and Brett Wisely both struck out swinging to leadoff the inning. LaMonte Wade Jr. then hit a deep fly ball for a fly out to Ji Hwan Bae in center field. The Pirates won 2-1.
Leo’s Extra Inning:
This was a disappointing loss for the red hot Giants who had looked to lengthen their streak of success. On the other hand, this was a much needed win for a Pirates team that has been struggling to keep up in the NL Wild Card race. Both pitching staff’s performances were extremely impressive in this game. This meant that the game would likely come down to who was better and more efficient in the field. The Giants ended up being worse in the field and it was costly for them as an error and a wild pitch in the same inning allowed the winning run to score. Sean Manaea did pitch well though as he went four innings and gave up just four hits and one unearned run while striking out three. The bullpen including John Brebbia pitched a combined five innings and gave up just one earned run on two hits while recording seven strikeouts. Johan Oviedo pitched very well for the Pirates as well. Oviedo went four and a third innings and despite walking five he only gave up one earned run and struck out five. Four Pirates relievers pitched four and two thirds innings and held the Giants scoreless to secure the win. The Pirates offense was led by Connor Joe who was one for four with a solo homer in the first. Rodolfo Castro was also huge as he went two for three and scored the winning run. Michael Conforto led the Giants offensively as he was two for four with an RBI. Blake Sabol and J.D. Davis also fared well as Sabol was two for three with a walk and Davis was zero for one with three walks. The Giants hit pretty well and got on base a bunch but we’re unable to capitalize. Overall, this was an entertaining pitching duel where mistakes lost the Giants the game.
Out of LF 