Bryce Harper collected four hits, including the game-tying single in the ninth inning, and Brandon Marsh delivered the go-ahead RBI in the 10th as the visiting Philadelphia Phillies rallied for an 11-9 win over the Pittsburgh Pirates on Friday.
Kyle Schwarber homered twice for Philadelphia, giving him a major-league-high 20 on the season, including nine in the past eight games. He drove in five runs to help the Phillies improve to 13-4 under interim manager Don Mattingly.
Brandon Lowe recorded his third multi-homer game of the season for Pittsburgh, which led 6-0 advantage after the third inning and 8-5 in the ninth. Oneil Cruz and Marcell Ozuna each drove in a pair of runs for the Pirates.
Philadelphia rallied in the ninth against Pittsburgh closer Gregory Soto, who struggled to find his control against his former team. Konnor Griffin’s error at shortstop opened the door for the big frame in which Soto walked in a run before Harper delivered a game-tying, two-run hit off the top of the right field wall.
After Jose Alvarado (1-1) struck out three in the bottom of the ninth, Philadelphia quickly went to work against Dennis Santana (2-3) in the 10th. Marsh’s leadoff double brought home the go-ahead run. Bryson Stott singled, and Rafael Marchan’s base hit extended the lead to 11-8.
Orion Kerkering allowed a run in the bottom half before slamming the door for his first save of the year.
The Pirates opened the scoring with a six-run third inning against Aaron Nola. Cruz delivered a two-run single early in the frame before Lowe followed with a two-run blast over the right field wall to make it 4-0.
Bryan Reynolds added a base hit and came around to score on Ozuna’s two-out homer. Ozuna’s blast reached the Pittsburgh bullpen, where reliever Yohan Ramirez caught the ball in a traffic cone.
Schwarber’s two-run homers in the fifth and seventh brought the visitors within 8-5, setting the stage for the ninth-inning rally.
Pittsburgh starter Brandon Ashcraft allowed four runs and seven hits in 6 2/3 innings. Nola gave up six runs and six hits in 3 2/3 frames.
–Field Level Media
