Pittsburgh Pirates’ Endy Rodriguez (25) singles off Cleveland Rangers reliever Sam Hentges, left, for his first major league hit during the seventh inning of a game in Pittsburgh, Wednesday July 19, 2023.
PITTSBURGH (AP) — Ji Man Choi and Jared Triolo hit two-run singles in a five-run seventh inning helped by an overturned call, and the Pittsburgh Pirates rallied from a four-run deficit to win on Wednesday 7-5 to the Cleveland Guardians. and stop a five-game losing streak.
Pittsburgh fell behind 4-0 in the fifth on Nick Gonzales’ single and Jake Suwinski’s RBI double against Aaron Civale.
Gonzales walked Nick Sandlin with one out in the seventh, and singles by Endy Rodriguez and Connor Joe off Sam Hentges (1-2) loaded the bases. Rodriguez’s bloop was his first hit in the major leagues after being called up from Triple-A Indianapolis on Monday.
“I’m really excited because, man, the whole lineup was working and now I got my first hit,” said Rodriguez, who went 0-for-7 with six strikeouts in his first two games. “I don’t know how to explain this emotion. It was very good. … A little pressure. Being in the big leagues for the first time is a little bit of pressure for everybody.”
Bryan Reynolds grounded into a 6-4-3 double play, but Junior Valentine’s call at first was overturned on video review, allowing Gonzales to score.
“We had a bloop that went down that seemed like it was up there forever,” Guardians manager Terry Francona said. “We had what we thought was a double play, we probably didn’t execute it cleanly enough. Those things become more striking in things like this.”
Carlos Santana walked, and Choi sent a strong liner to right field to make it 5-4. Enyel De Los Santos walked Henry Davis and Triolo hit a two-run single to left.
Josh Bell homered in the eighth off Ryan Borucki (1-0), and David Bednar struck out one in a perfect ninth for his 18th save in 19 starts.
Pittsburgh was outscored 21-1 in the first two games of the series.
“It was a great win,” Pirates coach Derek Shelton said. “I give them credit because we kept grinding. … We scored a run in the first two games and they gave it to us pretty good. They kept going even though they got down. They kept grinding through at-bats.”
Pirates starter Rich Hill gave up four runs and eight hits in 5 2/3 innings. He is 0-2 in his last four starts.
Civale allowed two runs and five hits in 5 1/3 innings.
“I throw until I’m out of the game. I was going to compete to the best of my ability,” Civale said. “We have one of the best bullpens in the game, regardless of how some of these last few games have gone. No one will deny it. Baseball has ups and downs, but we have one of the best bullpens in the game.”
Andrés Giménez drove in a run with a bunt in the fourth. Amed Rosario hit a two-run double in the fifth when Suwinski dropped the ball on his leaping catch to center and Bell followed with an RBI single.
TRAINERS’ ROOM
Pirates: 3B Ke’Bryan Hayes ran line sprints and took ground in his recovery from lower back inflammation. He could require a rehab assignment, Pittsburgh director of sports medicine Todd Tomczyk said. … SS Oneil Cruz is throwing up to 120 feet and has begun advanced biometric work in the weight room. He has been out since breaking his left ankle on April 9.
UNTIL THE NEXT
Keepers: RHP Gavin Williams (1-2, 3.94) will start Friday in the first of a three-game homestand against Philadelphia.
Pirates: RHP Johan Oviedo (3-10, 4.53) takes the mound Friday in the opener of a three-game series at the Los Angeles Angels.
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