Pence pinch-hit slam, Rangers rally past Pirates 9-6
By ALAN SAUNDERS Associated Press
PITTSBURGH (AP) — Hunter Pence connected for a pinch-hit grand slam in the eighth inning and Isiah Kiner-Falefa drove in the go-ahead run in the ninth as the Texas Rangers rallied past the Pittsburgh Pirates 9-6 on Wednesday.
The Rangers trailed 6-2 before three walks by reliever Michael Feliz loaded the bases for Pence. He sent the first pitch off the foul pole in left field to the tie it.
Kiner-Falefa doubled off Tyler Lyons (1-1) and an offline relay throw allowed Nomar Mazara to score. Rougned Odor followed with a two-run homer.
Ariel Jurado (1-1) worked the eighth and got the ball to Chris Martin, who earned his first save of the season and first since 2015.
Joey Gallo gave Texas the early lead with a two-run shot that bounced off the concourse beyond the right-center field wall and landed in the Allegheny River. The estimated 443-foot blast was Gallo’s 100th career home run in his 377th game, making him the fastest player to 100 homers in American League history.
Pirates first baseman Josh Bell’s estimated 472-foot drive tied the game in the fourth inning and is the fourth ever to reach the river on a fly. It was his ninth home run of the season after hitting 12 in 2018.
Gregory Polanco drove two with a single in the sixth. Kevin Newman stole second and scored on two errors ahead of Colin Moran’s pinch-hit home run in the seventh.
Texas starter Shelby Miller struck out six over his four innings, and allowed only the Bell homer.
TRAINER’S ROOM
Rangers: 1B Ronald Guzmán (right hamstring strain) is expected to come off the injured list on Thursday. He’s been out since April 7.
Pirates: The Pittsburgh Pirates put RHP Keone Kela on the 10-day injured list, retroactive to May 6, with right shoulder inflammation. … RHP Nick Burdi was diagnosed with a nerve injury after leaving the game in obvious pain on April 22. He’ll be re-assessed after six weeks of rest. . RHP Chris Archer (right thumb irritation) is scheduled to throw a simulated game on Friday.
UP NEXT
Rangers: LHP Mike Minor (3-2, 2.40 ERA) will start a four-game series at Houston. He threw seven scoreless against the Astros on April 3.
Pirates: RHP Joe Musgrove (1-3, 2.63) will start a season-long 11-game road trip in St. Louis on Friday. He made his shortest start of the season on May 3, when he allowed seven runs in 2 2/3 innings against Oakland.
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