PITTSBURGH (AP) — In a nail-biting finish, the Pittsburgh Pirates triumphed over the San Francisco Giants 13-12 on Tuesday night, with a crucial throwing error in the ninth inning sealing the win for the home team. Brandon Lowe scored the decisive run from third base after Giants third baseman Oseilvis Basabe mishandled a throw to first with two outs.
The excitement in the ninth began when Lowe, who had already enjoyed a stellar night with four hits, led off the inning against Giants pitcher Carson Seymour (0-1). After reaching base, he advanced to third on a single from Nick Gonzales and a fielder's choice from Oneil Cruz. With the game hanging in the balance, backup catcher Rafael Flores Jr. hit a sharp grounder to Basabe, who made a clean play but threw the ball wide of first base, allowing Lowe to score.
Lowe's performance included his 29th home run of the season, while Cruz also had a standout game, contributing four hits and four RBIs. The Pirates, who have now won five of their last seven games, displayed resilience after allowing the Giants to tie the game at 12 with a five-run rally in the eighth inning, highlighted by Drew Cavanaugh's two-run double.
Gonzales added to the Pirates' offensive effort with three hits, raising his batting average to an impressive .310. Spencer Horwitz and Jacob Gonzalez also made significant contributions, each recording two hits. On the mound, Mason Montgomery (6-3) managed to navigate through two hits in the ninth inning, maintaining the tie and setting the stage for the Pirates' dramatic win.
The game had initially appeared to be well in hand for Pittsburgh, as they exploded for nine runs in the third inning. Bryan Reynolds opened the scoring with a single against Giants starter Logan Webb, and the Pirates capitalized on a series of hits, including eight singles, two walks, and a hit batter, to build a commanding lead.
However, reigning NL Cy Young winner Paul Skenes struggled during his outing, allowing five runs over 4 2/3 innings. Despite his talent, Skenes could not secure his first win since mid-July, as he was removed after throwing 95 pitches, yielding five runs on eight hits, with three walks and four strikeouts. His ERA rose to 3.97 as he continues to seek consistency in his third major league season.
For the Giants, Turner Hill led the charge with four hits, while Cavanaugh and Christian Koss contributed with three and two hits, respectively. The loss dropped San Francisco to a dismal 24-46 record on the road, marking them as the worst team in the National League in away games.
The series continues on Wednesday, with the Giants set to send Landen Roupp (8-13, 4.25 ERA) to the mound against Pittsburgh's Bubba Chandler (6-9, 4.26). As both teams look to improve their standings, fans can expect another exciting matchup.
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