Dominic Smith’s go-ahead RBI double in the ninth inning propelled the San Francisco Giants to a 4-2 victory over the host Pittsburgh Pirates on Wednesday afternoon.
Smith’s double followed a one-out double by Jung Hoo Lee off reliever Dennis Santana (3-4), and led to the Giants’ second consecutive victory over the Pirates, who have lost four of their past six.
Patrick Bailey had two hits, and his second drove in an insurance run in the ninth, scoring Smith from second.
Randy Rodriguez pitched a scoreless ninth to pick up his third save and second since the All-Star reliever transitioned to the closer role for San Francisco following the trade deadline.
The Giants trailed 2-1 in the top of the eighth before loading the bases on a single by Bailey, a walk Isaac Mattson issued to Rafael Devers and a single by Willy Adames.
Bailey then scored on a sacrifice fly by Matt Chapman to tie the game.
The Pirates lost for only the fourth time this season in 41 games in which they led after seven innings.
San Francisco’s comeback picked up starter Robbie Ray after a solid start in which he allowed two runs on six hits and two walks and struck out eight over six innings.
Ryan Walker (4-4) struck out the side in the eighth inning, including an inning-ending strikeout of pinch hitter Oneil Cruz after Pittsburgh put runners on first and second.
Nick Gonzales had three hits and an RBI and Andrew McCutchen had two hits to lead the Pirates. Gonzales’ first hit drove in Liover Peguero with a single in the first inning to put Pittsburgh ahead 1-0.
The Giants tied the game in the fifth when Jerar Encarnacion hit his second home run in as many games off Pirates starter Andrew Heaney, who went 4 2/3 innings, allowing that lone run and two hits. He had one strikeout and did not issue a walk.
Pittsburgh took a 2-1 lead in the bottom half of the inning on a sacrifice fly by Tommy Pham that scored Isiah Kiner-Falefa.
–Field Level Media
