Luis Ortiz and three relievers combined on a two-hitter, and Rowdy Tellez singled in two runs as the visiting Pittsburgh Pirates beat the Cleveland Guardians 3-0 on Saturday.
Ortiz (6-4) allowed one hit with three walks and five strikeouts over six scoreless innings. He did not allow a hit until Bo Naylor singled with two outs in the fifth inning.
Jalen Beeks and Dennis Santana combined for two scoreless innings before Aroldis Chapman retired the Guardians in order in the ninth for his fifth save.
Nick Gonzales had three hits and scored twice for Pittsburgh, which ended its four-game skid.
The Pirates led 1-0 with two outs in the eighth inning when Tellez lined a two-run single into right field against Eli Morgan.
Guardians starter Matthew Boyd (1-1) allowed one run on four hits with no walks and a season-high eight strikeouts over six innings.
Pittsburgh took a 1-0 lead in the fourth inning when Gonzales hit a leadoff double and scored on Andrew McCutchen’s bloop single into right field.
McCutchen is batting .333 (17-for-51) with four home runs and 16 RBIs during his season-high 13-game hitting streak.
The Pirates threatened to add to their lead in the seventh inning when McCutchen drew a leadoff walk and Oneil Cruz singled against Nick Sandlin.
After Sandlin recorded back-to-back strikeouts, Jared Triolo walked to load the bases. Pedro Avila replaced Sandlin and escaped the jam on Henry Davis’ flyout.
Cruz had two hits and is batting .442 (19-for-43) during his career-high 11-game hitting streak. He has also reached base safely in each of his past 21 games.
The Guardians put two runners on with one out in the bottom of the seventh. Pittsburgh escaped unscathed when Lane Thomas flied out to left fielder Bryan Reynolds, who doubled up Josh Naylor at second base.
Naylor, who hit a double in four at-bats, served as Cleveland’s designated hitter after exiting the game Friday with a left ankle contusion.
–Field Level Media
