Jesus Rodriguez blooped a one-out, bases-loaded single in the bottom of the 12th inning, allowing the San Francisco Giants, after rallying three times from two-run deficits, to walk off the visiting Pittsburgh Pirates 7-6 Sunday afternoon.
After Ryan Borucki (1-1) stranded the potential go-ahead run at third base in both the 11th and 12th, the Giants finally ended the marathon affair after Pirates right fielder Ryan O’Hearn dropped Matt Chapman’s flyball, allowing automatic runner Heliot Ramos to take third base with one out.
After Drew Gilbert was walked intentionally to load the bases, Rodriguez, starting one day after catcher Patrick Bailey was traded to Cleveland, knocked Justin Lawrence’s next pitch in front of O’Hearn, sending Ramos home.
Lawrence (0-2), who entered the game in the 12th, took the loss.
Each team scored twice in the 10th. Spencer Horwitz gave the Pirates their third two-run lead with a two-RBI double, before Willy Adames drew the Giants even one final time at 6-6 with a two-out, two-run single off Yohan Ramirez.
The Pirates had already blown a pair of two-run leads, the second time when doubles by Rafael Devers, Ramos and Chapman turned a 4-2 game into a tie in the last of the sixth.
Pittsburgh jumped on Giants starter Tyler Mahle for single runs in its first two at-bats. An RBI single by Nick Gonzales opened the scoring in the first, before rookie Konnor Griffin launched a solo home run, the third in his 35 major league games, in the second.
The Giants drew even with single tallies in the third and fourth innings. Luis Arraez’s RBI single and Ramos’ fourth homer, a solo shot, his fourth, produced a 2-2 tie.
Then it was the Pirates’ turn again. Oneil Cruz gave the visitors a 3-2 lead in the fifth with his 10th homer. The advantage became 4-2 in the sixth on an RBI double by Horwitz.
Pittsburgh’s Bubba Chandler was pulled with that 4-2 lead after going five innings and allowing two runs on five hits. He walked one and struck out three.
Mahle went two outs into the sixth, charged with four runs on five hits. He walked two and struck out eight.
Adames had three hits, while Ramos, Devers, Chapman and Jung Hoo Lee chipped in two apiece for the Giants, who out-hit the visitors 13-7.
Horwitz totaled three RBIs on his two doubles for the Pirates, who completed a 3-3 Western swing.
