Pittsburgh Review

PHOENIX -- For eight innings, it appeared as if the somber tone set by second baseman Nick Gonzales landing on the injured list pregame would hang over the Pirates in Sunday’s matinee against the D-backs. However, a pair of timely pinch-hit doubles in the ninth from Rowdy Tellez and Joey Bart sparked a 6-5 extra-inning comeback win at Chase Field that propelled the club back above .500 ahead of a crucial 48-hour stretch prior to the Trade Deadline.

“It’s just one of 162, but this one felt like a giant pendulum swing that makes a flight to Houston -- with Bryan Reynolds expected to return to the lineup off the bereavement list and Paul Skenes starting Monday -- a joyous one.”

With the win, the Pirates sit two games behind the Mets for the final National League Wild Card spot.

"I think this is our biggest victory,” manager Derek Shelton declared postgame. “I mean, to come back with where we're at [in the standings] -- the way Mitch [Keller] pitched just to continue to grind through it, be down to two strikes [left in the ninth] … but we were able to get the final out, which was really important.”

“We were actually in the cage together and it was just, ‘Make something happen,’” Bart said of his and Tellez’s approach. “Seems like, late in a game, we’re always right there. It’s 2-1, it’s been dead a few innings, but the mentality is always something can happen. Always one swing away, so that’s kind of how we attacked it and luckily it worked out.”

That all-in, all-out approach was personified by Jared Triolo who drew the start at second base for Gonzales only to head out to right field after several moves stemming from the ninth inning. Playing his first inning at that position since his freshman year at University of Houston in 2017, Triolo made an impressive grab confirmed by replay review that sent the game into extra innings.

“Just kind of playing with no fear out there,” Triolo said. “Not a lot you can lose so you know just kind of fly around and catch balls you're supposed to catch.”

Pittsburgh pushed across four runs in the top of the 10th courtesy of a wild pitch, a bases-loaded hit by pitch of Alika Williams and a two-RBI single by Ke’Bryan Hayes. With David Bednar having worked a scoreless eighth with Pittsburgh trailing -- and Aroldis Chapman working a clean ninth forcing extras -- Colin Holderman was tasked with getting final three outs. He didn’t earn save due lead but finished just his third contest this year.

Two strikes stood between Pittsburgh and three straight losses kicking off vital stretch its schedule considering tiebreaker scenarios fact play Arizona again next weekend.

The last time Pirates incurred three-game sweep hands D-backs Chase Field July 2021; only Hayes Reynolds remain from starting nine then amidst trying season helping pave roadmap current playoff contention with 57 regular-season games remaining.

Keller part group first season full-time starter emerged as bonafide top-of-the-rotation arm further improving statistically upon All-Star campaign last year delivering seven innings two-hit two-run ball keeping Pirates within striking range opportune moment Sunday despite offense missing three main middle-order regulars.

It’s stuff -- timely hitting strong pitching contributors up down roster no matter circumstance – playoff baseball made.

“Obviously I don't feel like we're rebuilding anymore,” Keller said. “I think everybody's kind past point talks definitely feels different group guys have everyone's really good never takes at-bat off never takes play off shows when comes down situations could easily folded over lose 2-1 everybody still fighting for their at-bats fighting team.”

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