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PITTSBURGH — The good news for the Pirates is that they moved into a tie for the third National League wild card spot with a 3-2 walk-off win over the Diamondbacks at PNC Park on Monday night.
But the win came with a potential cost as star rookie Esmerlyn Valdez left the game after being hit by a pitch on his left hand.
Scoring Plays
Top 6th, 2-0 ARZ: The Diamondbacks (55-52) broke the scoreless tie on Max Kepler’s two-RBI double off Mitch Keller with one out, knocking the Pirates starter out of the game.
Bottom 6th, 2-1 ARZ: Brandon Lowe got the Pirates (55-52) on the board when he plated Jake Mangum from third base on an infield single off Merrill Kelly.
Bottom 8th, 2-2: Lowe and Bryan Reynolds hit back-to-back two-out doubles off Jonathan Loaisiga to tie the game.
Bottom 10th 3-2 PIT, Lowe delivered a walk-off single off Taylor Clarke (2-2). Lowe hit a hard liner off the glove of first baseman Ildemaro Vargas.
Key Moments
The Diamondbacks opted to pitch to Bryan Reynolds in the eighth despite first base being open and Jared Triolo due to follow. Reynolds made them pay by tying the game with a clutch RBI double.
Mason Montgomery (4-3) worked around a one-out Nick Gonzales error at third base and stranded a pair of runners in scoring position.
Player of the Game
Brandon Lowe recorded his second straight three-hit game and was the walk-off hero in the win.
Stat to Know
Nick Gonzales extended his hitting streak to a career-long 11 games with a single in the second inning. Gonzales recorded his 41st multi-hit game this season. Only the Marlins’ Otto Lopez (42) has more.
Notable Performances
- Mitch Keller: 5.1 innings, six hits, two runs, one walk, four strikeouts, 83 pitches/53 strikes
- Brandon Lowe: 3 for 5, one double, two RBIs, one run
- Nick Gonzales: 2 for 4
Noteworthy
- Esmerlyn Valdez left the game after he was hit by a pitch in the left hand in the fourth inning. He is currently being examined by the team’s medical staff. No additional updates have been provided.
- The Pirates’ bullpen combined for 4.2-scoreless innings.
- Pirates manager Don Kelly was ejected in the eighth inning by third base ump Ben May after a pair of check swings that went against Bryan Reynolds.
- Jacob Gonzalez had his first-career stolen base after snapping an 0-for-11 skid with a base hit in the fifth inning.
- The Pirates reinstated C Endy Rodríguez (left groin strain from the 10-day injured list.
- The Pirates acquired OF Johnathan Rodríguez from the Orioles for cash considerations and designated C Shawn Ross for assignment.
- On Sunday, the Pirates traded RHP José Urquidy to the White Sox for minor-league RHP Felix Doroteo.
Up Next
RHP Bubba Chandler (3-8, 4.47 ERA) starts for the Pirates on Tuesday night. RHP Brandon Pfaadt (5-1, 4.43 ERA) gets the ball for the Diamondbacks. First pitch: 6:40 p.m. ET on SportsNet Pittsburgh/93.7 The Fan.
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The post Pirates Move Into Tie in Wild Card Race With Walk-Off Win Over Dbacks appeared first on Pittsburgh Baseball Now.
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