Bucs Accept Gifts, Overcome Aguilar & 3 Homers To Down Fish 8-7 In 12 Innings On Jake's Walk-Off

Today's Game: Chase De Jong spun a quiet opening frame. Bryan Reynolds and Jake Stallings singled with two gone before Trevor Rogers posted the third out. The Marlins stranded a two-out double in the second. After an out, the Pirates got a Kevin Newman walk and Ka'ai Tom bloop. They were bunted along and the sac paid off when Adam Frazier singled them both home. CDJ spun a clean third and so did Rogers. Miami muscled up in the fourth, opening with a Jesus Aguilar homer and Cory Dickerson double. An out later, Jazz Chisholm went deep with a wind-aided fly that just dropped into the Clemente seats, and the Fish were up 3-2. The Marlins banged another two-bagger but De Jong escaped without further damage. Pittsburgh went down after 10 pitches. It kept on for Miami; Jorge Alfaro cranked a two-out big fly to center with a runner on first to make it 5-2 in the fifth. The Bucs had no response. Sam Howard was handed the ball in the sixth, and an overturned home run call (it was clearly outside the LF pole) helped him to a 1-2-3 frame. Pittsburgh worked a walk in their half.

Sam Howard has been a beast - photo Pirates/MLB.com

Aguilar got his third hit in the seventh with two away, dropping a single into center for Sam's only blemish. Richard Bleier got the call for the Fish, and a two-down error was the only action the Pirates could generate. David Bednar worked the eighth and was tagged for a two-bagger, but a pair of whiffs made for a calm inning. Anthony Bass dug in on the hill and Young Hayes greeted him with a double. B-Rey drew a free pass, and two outs later, Gregory Polanco's infield single juiced the sacks. Anthony Bender was waved in to face Kevin Newman and lost him on a 3-2 sinker to make the score 5-3. He then bopped Ka'ai Tom to cut the margin to one. Michael Perez pinch hit and hit a hopper to first; Bender, covering the sack, missed the flip to the bag and two runs scored on the error to give Pittsburgh the lead. Richard Rodriguez strolled in for the ninth and was met with an opening knock. Starling Marte walked on what looked like strike three to everyone but the ump. An out later, a single (yes, by Aguilar) knotted the score on a close play at home after a strong throw by Tom. Two K's brought the Bucs up against Dylan Floro, who caught two Pirates looking on three-pitch fans.

Kyle Crick is bouncing back nicely - photo Pittsburgh Pirates

Kyle Crick was beckoned for the 10th, and a right-side grounder and deep sac fly plated the ghost runner. Yimi Garcia scaled the slope. Ben Gamel's bouncer to first moved the Buc ghost, Jake Stallings, to third and he touched home after Gregory's sac fly. It was on to the 11th. Kyle walked the first batter, then dished up a 6-4-3 DP, moving the ghost to third, where a whiff left him. John Curtiss took the bump, and a wild pitch moved free runner K-Man to third. A whiff, comebacker and foul pop froze him there. Clay Holmes answered the phone for the 12th and tossed a zero. Adam Cimber was next man up, and a shot by Key to the wall tagged bonus runner Fraze to third. An intentional walk to B-Rey put Pirates on the corners, and *yay* Jake singled the game winner home, four hours and 20 minutes after the first pitch. Raise it, finally. 

After working seven innings yesterday, the bullpen had to eat seven more frames today. They've allowed one earned run in those 14 innings. It's nice to see the attack score some, but as always, pitching is what wins games.

Notes:

• Jake was the only Buc with two hits (plus a walk). B-Rey had a knock and two walks and K-Man walked twice.
• Colin Moran was spotted in the clubhouse, so his recall from the IL should be right around the bend.
• Miami, with 52 dingers, came into the game with only two teams having hit fewer homers: the NY Mets (44) and the Pirates, who are last with 39 long balls. The Fish are coming along power-wise, though - they had a four-homer day on June 2nd v Toronto to go with the three kissed today.
• The Steelers' top draft pick, Najee Harris, threw the ceremonial first pitch to the Parrot.
• There were 8,714 fans in the house.

Tomorrow's Game: The series concludes at 1:05 and will be aired by AT&T SportsNet & 93.7 The Fan. Chad Kuhl closes out the set against Sandy Alcantara.