Pirates end 8-game skid with 2 11th-inning HRs to beat Texas
By STEPHEN HAWKINS AP Baseball Writer
ARLINGTON, Texas (AP) — When Bryan Reynolds led off the 11th inning with his first career homer, everybody on the Pittsburgh Pirates’ bench erupted in celebration. They were all quiet by time the rookie rounded the bases and got back to the dugout.
“We were all like so quick to hop up and jump up and down, then someone said (silent treatment) and we all knew why,” said Josh Bell, who came home and tied the score against the Texas Rangers with a two-run double in the ninth.
Reynolds put the Pirates ahead with his blast to the hill in center field off Jesse Chavez (0-1), and Starling Marte then added a two-run homer as the Pirates ended their eight-game losing streak with a 6-4 win Tuesday night.
“I kind of blanked out, and then I realized what was going on,” Reynolds said.
The Pirates were scoreless until getting three-run ninth off closer Jose Leclerc that Reynolds started with a double.
“Puts a big smile on your face. I mean, he had a double off the glove to keep the hitting streak alive and then he puts an exclamation point on the end of his night,” manager Clint Hurdle said. “Marte puts an exclamation point on the end of his night for a guy that’s been out 10, 11 days, hadn’t seen any live pitching. … But for Reynolds, what a charge. His first RBI. First home run. Off a veteran pitcher, a good pitcher. Pretty swing.”
Reynolds has hit safely in all eight of his games since his big league debut April 20, when the outfielder was called up the same day Marte was put on the injured list with bruises to his abdominal wall and ribs.
Marte played his first game since he was involved in a full-speed collision with shortstop Erik Gonzalez on April 19 that sent both players to the injured list — Gonzalez broke his collarbone and is on the 60-day injured list.
Kyle Crick (1-1), who was born in nearby Fort Worth and lives in Sherman about 90 miles north, pitched a perfect 10th. Felipe Vazquez worked the 11th for his seventh save after allowing Joey Gallo’s leadoff homer — his 10th being a 467-foot drive into the second deck of seats in right field.
Pittsburgh had three consecutive hits off Leclerc to start to the ninth, including Adam Frazier’s RBI single for their first run. Leclerc then struck out two before Bell, who was born and raised in the Dallas-Fort Worth area and grew up a Rangers fan, tied the game at 3 with a two-run double driven the opposite way into the left-center gap.
“That was huge, I felt that support from my friends and family,” Bell said. “To be able to come through and pull through for the team right there, I can’t ask for much more.”
It was the second blown save in seven chances this season for Leclerc, who became the Rangers’ closer after Keone Kela was traded to Pittsburgh last July. Kela pitched a scoreless ninth for the Pirates.
Manager Chris Woodward said there would be a discussion about Leclerc’s role moving forward, and that he could pitch in some non-save and lower-pressure situations.
“Obviously with a young guy, you don’t want to kill the kid’s confidence,” Woodward said. “I would love to just keep giving him the ball, but I do have to be mindful where his mental state. He wants the ball, but he also doesn’t want to feel like he’s letting his teammates down. It’s a tough situation for him.”
SOFT RUNS
Asdrúbal Cabrera blooped a two-run single to right in the fourth — MLB stats registered the exit velocity off the bat at 59 mph — to give the Rangers a 2-0 lead. They went ahead 3-0 in the eighth on Gallo’s third walk, which came after a passed ball on a strikeout and two other walks had loaded the bases.
STILL LOOKING FOR NO. 1
Rangers starter Adrian Sampson was denied his first big league victory after 5 2/3 scoreless innings. The right-hander struck out five without a walk, and hit a batter, in his 13th career appearance (eighth start) since his big league debut for Seattle in 2016. He was a fifth-round pick by the Pirates in 2012.
TRAINER’S ROOM
Pirates: C Francisco Cervelli was hit on his left wrist by a pitch in the second inning. He initially remained in the game, but two pitches later left the game. He was examined by Rangers team physician Dr Keith Meister, and the Pirates expect an update Wednesday.
UP NEXT
Pirates: RHP Jameson Taillon (1-3, 4.06) is 0-2 with a 4.50 ERA in his three road starts this year.
Rangers RHP Shelby Miller (1-1, 7.52) has allowed exactly four runs in each of his last four starts. He is 2-7 with a 4.88 ERA in 10 career starts against Pittsburgh.
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Starling HR
Gallo HR
HR leading off 11th
Cabrera

That'll do, that'll do. #TogetherWe pic.twitter.com/3PYFH72kEk

— Texas Rangers (@Rangers) May 1, 2019

Muncy, Bellinger lead Dodgers to 7-6 win, sweep of Pirates
By DOUG PADILLA Associated Press
LOS ANGELES (AP) — Cody Bellinger helps the Los Angeles Dodgers with power and a refined plate approach, too.
Bellinger hit his 14th home run of the season in the fourth inning, then rolled an RBI single through the defensive shift in the seventh inning as the Dodgers beat the Pittsburgh Pirates 7-6 on Sunday to complete a three-game sweep.
“Whether it’s a lefty or a righty, there is a time to get big and try to go for the big homer, or really drive the baseball, and there is a time to go for another club,” manager Dave Roberts said. “And right now, Cody has different clubs to use.”
Max Muncy singled home the tying run in the fifth inning and the go-ahead run in the seventh, boosting the Los Angeles Dodgers over the Pittsburgh Pirates 7-6 Sunday for a three-game sweep.
Rich Hill made his season debut after recovering from a sprained right knee and allowed five runs — just one earned — and five hits in six innings. Hill struck out six, walked none and retired his last 13 batters as the Dodgers rallied from a 5-1 deficit.
“I didn’t change anything,” Hill said. “I just continued to keep executing and making pitches. I have always continuously gotten better as outings have gone on.”
Bellinger’s 14th homer matched Albert Pujols (2006), Alex Rodriguez (2007) and Christian Yelich (this year) for the most home runs before the end of the season’s first full month. Bellinger had three RBIs and leads the major leagues with a .427 average and 36 RBIs.
Los Angeles has won four straight overall and seven in a row at home, improving to an NL-best 19-11. The Pirates have lost eight consecutive games overall and 14 of their last 16 against the Dodgers.
Pittsburgh’s Melky Cabrera had four hits, including first multi-homer game since July 2015 and the fifth of his career.
Julio Urías (2-1) allowed one run in two innings, and Kenley Jansen pitched in an out of trouble in the ninth for his 10th save in 11 chances. Adam Frazier walked with two outs and Cabrera doubled, but Gregory Polanco struck out.
A day after getting the Pirates’ attention when he bumped into catcher Francisco Cervelli when scoring a run, Muncy had three hits.
Bellinger’s fourth-inning homer started the comeback. Corey Seager hit a two-run double in the fifth and scored the tying run on Muncy’s single.
Muncy singled over the outstretched glove of shortstop Cole Tucker against Richard Rodríguez (0-2) in the seventh, and Bellinger greeted left-hander Francisco Liriano with an RBI single for a 7-5 lead. Josh Bell had a run-scoring single against Urías in the eighth.
Pirates starter Trevor Williams gave up five runs and eight hits over six innings.
“I made one bad pitch to Bellinger today and he hit it out of the yard,” Williams said.
HIT PARADE
Bellinger’s 44 hits are a Dodgers record before May, one more than Rafael Furcal in 2008.
TRAINER’S ROOM
Dodgers: LHP Caleb Ferguson was placed on the 10-day injured list after straining his left oblique muscle Saturday.
UP NEXT
Pirates: RHP Jordan Lyles (2-105 ERA) opens a two-game series Tuesday at Texas
Dodgers: RHP Kenta Maeda (3-2) starts at San Francisco on Monday after giving up a season-high six earned runs against the Chicago Cubs in his last outing.
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Bucs drop 7th straight to Kershaw and the Dodgers 3-1

Kershaw gets 1st win as Dodgers beat Pirates 3-1
By DOUG PADILLA Associated Press
LOS ANGELES (AP) — Three starts into his delayed season and Clayton Kershaw already appears back in his usual form.
Kershaw earned his first win, allowing one run over seven innings to outpitch Joe Musgrove and help the Los Angeles Dodgers beat the Pittsburgh Pirates 3-1 on Saturday night.
Chris Taylor hit a tying sacrifice fly and Joc Pederson followed with a two-run triple as the Dodgers rallied for three runs in the seventh inning and sent the Pirates to their season-high seventh straight loss.
Kershaw (1-0), making his third start after recovering from shoulder inflammation, gave up four hits, struck out eight and walked none, retiring 13 of his last 14 batters. He has a 2.25 ERA and has not given up more than two earned runs in any of his three starts.
The three-time Cy Young Award winner is not usually one to compare outings, but did say this was an improvement over his last, when he gave up two runs over six innings at Milwaukee, while walking four.
“I felt pretty much the same,” Kershaw said about his strength as he builds into his season. “I think the one before this one was a little rockier. Not stronger or weak, just a little more inconsistent. But I felt great tonight and I need to keep building on this one.”
Pittsburgh went ahead in the third when Pablo Reyes singled leading off, was sacrificed to second by Musgrove and scored on Adam Frazier’s single.
From there, Kershaw matched Musgrove (1-2) pitch for pitch until the Dodgers broke through late in the game.
“This is a tough stretch we’re going through right now,” Musgrove said. “As a starting pitcher, I embrace the challenge. It’s my turn to go out there and set the tone and try and control the game. I came one out short of that tonight.”
Caleb Ferguson allowed the Pirates to load the bases with no outs in the eighth on two walks and a single.
Pedro Baez retired Melky Cabrera on a flyout and Colin Moran on a popup that dropped next to third baseman Justin Turner after an infield fly was called. Baez then struck out Josh Bell.
“Bases loaded and nobody out is a pretty impossible situation,” Kershaw said. “(Baez) was unbelievable. He dominated it and got us out of there. I can’t say enough about (Baez). That was awesome tonight.”
Kenley Jansen pitched a perfect ninth for his ninth save in 10 chances, completing a five-hitter.
Singles by Max Muncy and Alex Verdugo started the Dodgers’ rally. Pirates catcher Francisco Cervelli took a glancing blow to his left side as Muncy scored, but a video review determined there was nothing improper with Muncy’s slide.
Musgrove allowed three runs and seven hits in 6 2/3 innings, ending the Dodgers’ major league record of hitting a home run in 33 consecutive home games. Musgrove gave up just five earned runs in his first five starts.
“He’s very collected, he’s a fierce competitor and he expects a lot out of himself,” Pirates manager Clint Hurdle said. “He pours into his teammates. He is an absolute pleasure to coach and have on a club.”
BUMP AND A RUN
Cervelli was met on the field by a trainer after Muncy bumped him while scoring his run in the seventh inning. Hurdle was asked about the play afterward.
“We’ll talk about it internally,” Hurdle said. “There is no need to share it publicly.”
Muncy said he meant no ill will.
“I didn’t want to hit him; I didn’t mean to hit him. I can tell you that right now,” Muncy said. “It wasn’t on purpose. It was one those things where I’m running straight for it and he came up the line so I raised my arm to brace in case we hit each other and I clipped him. That’s the end of it.
“If they feel the need to retaliate, that’s fine. They’ll retaliate and I’ll be on base and smile because that raises my on-base percentage.”
Cervelli, who said he took the blow to his ribs, was asked if he thought the bump was necessary.
“I don’t know,” he said. “You’ve got to ask him. I don’t know. I’ve got no idea.”
TRAINER’S ROOM
Pirates: RHP Chris Archer was placed on the 10-day IL with right thumb inflammation. … OF Corey Dickerson will not start his expected minor league injury rehabilitation assignment after experiencing more shoulder discomfort. … OF Lonnie Chisenhall had his rehab assignment for a broken finger halted because of left calf tightness. … C Jacob Stallings (neck) started a rehab assignment with Triple-A Indianapolis.
Dodgers: C Russell Martin was activated off the IL after not playing since April 8 because of a back inflammation. C Rocky Gale was optioned to Triple-A Oklahoma City.
UP NEXT
Dodgers LHP Rich Hill will make his 2019 debut after recovering from a left knee strain. Pittsburgh RHP Trevor Williams (1-1) heads into Sunday’s outing with quality starts in all five of his outings but just 11 runs of support.
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Dodgers homer in record 33 straight home games, beat Pirates
By DOUG PADILLA Associated Press
LOS ANGELES (AP) — Cody Bellinger’s one mighty swing of the bat was loaded with historical significance.
Bellinger hit a two-run homer in the first inning and the Dodgers set a major league record with homers in 33 consecutive home games in a 6-2 win over the Pittsburgh Pirates on Friday night.
Bellinger’s blast was noteworthy for other reasons, too. He moved into a tie for the major league lead for home runs with the Milwaukee Brewers’ Christian Yelich at 13 and set the major league record for total bases in the months of March-April with 88. He also set a Dodgers’ record for home runs in March-April, moving past Matt Kemp.
With his total-base mark, he moved past former teammate Chase Utley, who had 85 total bases before the start of May in the 2008 season as a member of the Philadelphia Phillies. Utley, who now works in baseball operations for the Dodgers, was on hand before Friday’s game.
“It feels pretty cool,” Bellinger said about passing Utley’s mark. “I honestly didn’t know until he told me at the game today. So hopefully he is here (Saturday) so we can talk about it.”
So it was Utley that informed him that a record-breaking night could be ahead?
“No, they told me in the dugout after it happened,” Bellinger said.
With home runs in their first 14 home games this season, the Dodgers also matched this year’s Milwaukee Brewers and the 1962 New York Mets for most consecutive home games with a home run to open a season.
Josh Bell hit a home run for the Pirates, who were otherwise held in check by Dodgers starter Hyun-Jin Ryu. The Pirates lost a season-worst sixth consecutive game, a skid that followed a five-game winning streak.
“Like I always say, it’s pretty comfortable pitching at home, especially knowing how my teammates will help me in terms of putting up runs early,” Ryu said through an interpreter. “That has led to successful results. And seeing that consecutive (home-run streak) definitely builds my confidence.”
Ryu (3-1) struck out 10 and gave up two runs over seven innings in his second start since returning from the injured list due to a strained left groin. It was the first time the left-hander reached double-digits in strikeouts since July 13, 2014.
“He pitched us basically as we anticipated because he had good stuff, he mixed his pitches well,” Pirates manager Clint Hurdle said. “He kept the ball away, he kept the ball down, the cutter played in tight. We had early opportunities we weren’t able to get traction with and that hurt us.”
Pirates starter Chris Archer (1-2) gave up six runs on six hits over four innings, the most earned runs he has allowed in an outing since Aug. 26 of last season at Milwaukee. Heading into the game, Pirates starters had given up 11 home runs, the fewest in baseball.
Bellinger’s home run in the first was his eighth at Dodger Stadium this season. Austin Barnes added a solo shot in the second inning, his third of the season.
“If I had my slider working like it normally is working, then I’m able to (put away hitters),” Archer said. “Tonight, I didn’t. I left a change-up up to Bellinger, which, you know, it happens. Anything that dude sees right now, he’s smashing. But other than that, most of the damage was on sliders that I left over the plate or fastballs that I didn’t locate well enough.”
The Pirates took a 1-0 lead in the first inning. Adam Frazier and Melky Cabrera each singled four pitches into the game and Frazier scored when Gregory Polanco grounded into a double play. The Pirates fell to 12-6 when scoring first.
NO WALKING ZONE
Friday’s outing was Ryu’s third in five tries in which he did not walk a batter. He has given only two free passes in 27 1/3 innings this season.
Both of Ryu’s walks this year were on borderline pitches, and he has not walked a batter at home since Aug. 26 of last season. In that stretch, he has struck out 58 batters over 56 innings.
Pinpoint control has always been a priority for the lefty. He’s executing that plan well of late.
“I guess it all goes back to how I was taught going back to elementary school,” Ryu said. “People around me told me how it’s better to give up a homer than a base on balls. Unfortunately, that led to consecutive games of me giving up homers right now. That is the downside, but at least I don’t have anybody that gets on base for free. It’s just the nature of how I attack hitters.”
TRAINER’S ROOM
Pirates: Outfielder Corey Dickerson, who has been out since April 4 because of a shoulder strain, is set to join Triple-A Indianapolis at Charlotte for a minor league rehab assignment.
Dodgers: Catcher Russell Martin, who has been out since April 10 with a back injury, participated in a simulated game at Dodger Stadium and is expected to be in the starting lineup Sunday, manager Dave Roberts said. . Right-hander Tony Cingrani, who hasn’t pitched this season because of shoulder soreness, threw on the side and could be headed on a rehab assignment next week, according to Roberts.
UP NEXT
Joe Musgrove (1-1, 1.59 ERA), who has left each of his last two starts with a lead in the seventh inning, will take the mound Saturday at Los Angeles. Clayton Kershaw (0-0, 2.77) will make his third start of the season Saturday, after delivering a quality start at Milwaukee on Sunday despite four walks.
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Marte homers twice, D-Backs win 9th straight at Pittsburgh
By WES CROSBY Associated Press
PITTSBURGH (AP) — There was no stopping Ketel Marte and the Diamondbacks — especially not in Pittsburgh.
Marte homered from both sides of the plate, and Arizona won at PNC Park for the ninth straight time, beating the Pirates 11-2 on Wednesday night.
Marte batted lefty while extending Arizona’s lead to 5-1 with a solo shot in the fifth inning before going righty and driving a three-run shot, his sixth homer this season, into the left-field bleachers in the eighth. It was the third multi-homer game of his career and second this season.
“He has so much offensive capability,” Diamondbacks manager Torey Lovullo said. “It’s just nice to see him putting it together and making tonight very special. You hit home runs from both sides of the plate as a switch-hitter, it’s like a dream come true. You work extremely hard. It means you’re locked in.”
Arizona’s nine-game winning streak at Pittsburgh is its longest in an opponent’s stadium, surpassing its eight straight at Philadelphia from June 17, 2016-April 24, 2018. The Diamondbacks have not lost in Pittsburgh since May 29, 2017, when Andrew McCutchen homered in the ninth of a 4-3 win for the Pirates.
Eduardo Escobar, who was 3 for 4 with a walk, tripled in the first, and the Diamondbacks hit three straight singles to take a 2-0 lead. Nick Ahmed homered to lead off the second before Escobar doubled in Caleb Joseph for a 4-0 lead.
“When you win, everybody’s happy,” Escobar said. “I think what’s important is working hard every day. Come to the field and play hard.”
After Marte’s first homer, the Diamondbacks added three runs on back-to-back two-out doubles from David Peralta and Christian Walker, extending the lead to 8-2 in the seventh.
The Pirates have been outscored 25-7 in the first three games of the four-game series.
“We’re just not clicking consistently as an offense,” manager Clint Hurdle said. “We’re not bunching at-bats together. We’re shown some spurts at times, but the overall opportunities, we’re still kind of short with runners at third and less than two outs. Happened to us again tonight. … You own your at-bat. The guys know it.”
Merrill Kelly (2-2) gave up two runs on six hits in seven innings, walking two and striking out five. The runs came on homers from Josh Bell in the fourth and Jung Ho Kang in the sixth.
“Any time the offense puts runs on the board, it just allows you to be a little more aggressive,” Kelly said. “With the risk of taking the solo home runs like I did tonight, but I knew that they weren’t going to hurt me.”
Bell’s home run was his fifth in 22 games after hitting 12 in 148 games last season.
Jordan Lyles (2-1) lasted five innings, allowing five runs (four earned) on eight hits with three strikeouts. He gave up one run on 10 hits in 17 innings through his first three starts.
“There’s not much room in their lineup to take a breath,” Lyles said. “They scored early and often. That’s what good offenses do.”
TRAINER’S ROOM
Pirates: OF Bryan Reynolds did not play because of left quadriceps muscle discomfort he experienced during Tuesday’s game. He took batting practice Wednesday. … SS Erik Gonzalez will have surgery Thursday to repair a broken collarbone. He was injured while colliding with OF Starling Marte last Friday. … OF Gregory Polanco was given the day off after having two hits in each of his first two games of the season. He had shoulder surgery last Sept. 12.
UP NEXT
Diamondbacks: RHP Zack Greinke (3-1, 4.60 ERA) takes the mound in the series finale. He is 3-0 in his past four starts. Arizona will finish its 10-game trip after winning seven of the first nine games.
Pirates: RHP Jameson Taillon (1-2, 3.12) will look to end Pittsburgh’s four-game skid. On Saturday, Taillon allowed one run on four hits in five innings of a rain-shortened 3-1 win over the San Francisco Giants.
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Dyson’s dive gets run on review, D-backs beat Pirates 2-1
By ALAN SAUNDERS Associated Press
PITTSBURGH (AP) — Jarrod Dyson watched the ball hit the dirt and bolted for home, an impressive read by the veteran speedster.
He saw the play at plate better than some, too.
Dyson slid around catcher Francisco Cervelli and signaled that he was safe, but he was only credited with the go-ahead run after a replay review. That dash-and-dive was the difference in the Arizona Diamondbacks’ 2-1 win over the Pittsburgh Pirates on Tuesday night.
Dyson was originally called out by plate umpire Gerry Davis, but a quick video review showed that Dyson stretched his left hand out on his head-first dive and touched the plate before Cervelli’s glove reached his back.
The scoring play was made even more difficult because Dyson had to hold up as Pirates first baseman Josh Bell made a backhanded stab at the ball, but missed. When Adam Frazier corralled it at deep second, he hesitated a moment before throwing home. That was all the time that Dyson needed.
“The thing that really stood out to me was that it was a line drive and Jarrod had to freeze or get back on a line drive,” manager Torey Lovullo said. “He did that and then made a great, aggressive play once he reloaded and saw the ball was not caught.”
The play was a difference-maker in a pitchers’ duel between Luke Weaver and Trevor Williams.
“These are the game where small things happen,” Arizona outfielder Adam Jones said. “We win by one run and it was on a great baserunning play by Dyson. I don’t think anyone else could score on that.”
Weaver (2-1) struck out seven and won his second straight start. He worked into the seventh inning for the second time this season, going 6 1/3 innings while allowing one run. After dealing with traffic in his first three innings, he faced the minimum over the next three.
“Finally, I felt like it clicked and things kind of flowed together, and came with it more confidence and more conviction,” Weaver said.
After allowing four earned runs in 4 1/3 innings in his first start of the season, things have steadily progressed for Weaver. He has struck out 24 batters over his last 22 2/3 innings, and his ERA is down to 3.33.
“He’s not backing out of any situation,” Lovullo said. “He believes in all of his pitches. When you follow that game plan and do that kind of a job, you’re obviously going to pitch deep into games.”
Jones doubled to score Eduardo Escobar in the second, his team-leading 16th RBI.
Both runs went against Williams (1-1), who threw seven innings. He struck out four and walked one. Williams faced the minimum through three and allowed just four hits.
“It was one of those classic pitchers’ duels that I think everyone was really enjoying,” Lovullo said.
Cervelli doubled home Colin Moran in the second inning for Pittsburgh. The Pirates went 1 for 10 with runners in scoring position.
It was the first game this season the Pirates lost when Williams started, despite it being one of his better outings.
“It’s baseball,” he said. “We’re going to be giving up some runs and the offense is going to pick us back up. It’s the ebbs and flows of a season.”
Arizona relievers Andrew Chafin and Archie Bradley got the ball to Greg Holland, who worked around a walk and a wild pitch to earn his fifth save.
TRAINER’S ROOM
Pirates: OF Bryan Reynolds was removed from the game as a precaution with left quadriceps muscle discomfort. … RHP Nick Burdi was placed on the 10-day IL with right biceps and elbow pain a day after a frightening injury on the mound. … SS Kevin Newman (right middle finger laceration) started his rehab assignment with Triple-A Indianapolis and went 1 for 3.
UP NEXT
Diamondbacks: RHP Merrill Kelly (1-2, 4.37 ERA) will try to bounce back from his shortest outing of the season, when he gave up three runs over 3 2/3 innings on April 19.
Pirates: Jordan Lyles (2-0, 0.53) has allowed just one earned run over his first three starts.
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Pirates reliever Burdi injured; Arizona rallies for 12-4 win
By WILL GRAVES AP Sports Writer
PITTSBURGH (AP) — Nick Burdi’s combination of grit and resilience — oh and a fastball that can touch triple digits — helped the Pittsburgh Pirates reliever carve out a spot in the big leagues less than two years removed from Tommy John surgery on his right arm.
One innocent-looking pitch to Arizona’s Jarrod Dyson on Monday night likely signaled another abrupt turn in Burdi’s roller coaster career and the Diamondbacks’ 12-4 comeback victory.
The 26-year-old, a former touted prospect in Minnesota who found traction in Pittsburgh, threw a 96 mph fastball to Dyson in the eighth inning then crumpled to the ground before clutching his right arm while tears filled his eyes. He wept while teammates tried to console him on the mound.
Pirates director of sports medicine Todd Tomczyk said Burdi was dealing with pain in his biceps and elbow, but it was too early for a diagnosis.
“It just takes the breath right out of you,” said Pittsburgh manager Clint Hurdle.
Burdi had struck out 17 over 8 1/3 innings prior to Monday after making the Pirates out of spring training. Christian Walker touched him for a two-run home run in Arizona’s seven-run seventh inning and Burdi gave up three straight singles to start the eighth before his second pitch to Dyson altered the trajectory of Burdi’s season, if not his career.
“It’s awful,” Diamondbacks manager Torey Lovullo said. “We’re competitors up until something like that happens. We’re all in the same family. You hate to see anything like that happen. The way he went down, you’re just hoping for the absolute best.”
Burdi’s teammates stopped by to check on him in the aftermath. While the prognosis is uncertain, the Pirates are confident Burdi will find a way to navigate the difficult path ahead.
“He’s in good spirits,” Pittsburgh starter Joe Musgrove said. “He’s engaging. He’s talking to us. He’s not in a corner crying. He’s ready to face whatever it is. He’s got the work ethic and the mentality to bounce back from something like this.”
COMEBACK KIDS
The Diamondbacks put together their major league leading ninth comeback by exploding in the seventh and eighth after falling behind 4-1. A walk and a single chased Musgrove, and Arizona poured it on against reliever Kyle Crick (0-1) and Burdi.
Swinging bunts by John Ryan Murphy and newly acquired Blake Swihart — singles that didn’t even reach the pitcher’s mound — and a flare to left field over a draw-in infield by Eduardo Escobar drew the Diamondbacks within 4-3. David Peralta then drilled a shot to the gap in right-center off Crick, and Walker followed two batters later with a towering flyball off Burdi that landed in the first row of seats in the right field stands. In a span of minutes, a three-run deficit morphed into an 8-4 lead.
“I think it’s just a tribute to the guys we have,” said Walker, whose seven home runs have all come in the seventh inning or later. “Our pitches are out there battling and keeping us in games. We want to do everything we can to score runs and win and all that.”
Escobar added his third home run and finished with three RBI for Arizona. Murphy finished with three hits for the Diamondbacks, who improved to 5-2 on their current 10-game trip. Matt Andriese (3-1) picked up the win in relief.
POLANCO RETURNS
Pittsburgh right fielder Gregory Polanco doubled and singled in his first game back after undergoing left shoulder surgery last September. While Polanco acknowledged his throwing arm probably won’t be at 100 percent for a while, he looked comfortable in the field, too, though he declined to take any risks on a pair of sinking flyballs sent his way in the later innings with Pittsburgh already trailing.
ALL SHUCK UP
The portion of Pittsburgh’s second-smallest crowd (9,233) that stuck around for the ninth got a chance to watch outfielder JB Shuck make his second major league appearance on the mound. Shuck — who gave up a run in an inning of work for the Chicago White Sox in 2016 — allowed a walk and a hit but kept the Diamondbacks from adding to their huge lead.
“Unfortunately, you never want to be in that situation, but somebody, I guess has to do it,” said Shuck, who reached 91 mph. “I don’t mind doing it and hopefully helping out in some way.”
TRAINER’S ROOM
Pirates: 2B Kevin Newman will spend some time in the outfield at Triple-A Indianapolis working in the outfield as he recovers from a laceration in the middle finger of his right (throwing) hand. Hurdle said Newman will also get in some work at shortstop, though Newman could find himself as more of a utility player at the big-league level.
UP NEXT
Pittsburgh’s Trevor Williams (1-0, 2.59 ERA) will look for his first victory since March 31 on Tuesday. Arizona starter Luke Weaver (1-1, 3.92) tossed five shutout innings in his last start, a win over Atlanta on April 18.
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Tucker homers in debut, Pirates top Giants 3-1 in 5 innings
By WILL GRAVES AP Sports Writer
PITTSBURGH (AP) — Cole Tucker’s day began with him frantically packing up what he could in his Indianapolis apartment in the middle of the night, grabbing a 5 a.m. flight to Pittsburgh with fellow Pirates call-up Bryan Reynolds and trying not to be overwhelmed by the prospect of his major league debut.
It ended with a 431-foot homer into shrubs beyond the center field fence at PNC Park, an unlikely curtain call, a series of selfies in a downpour, 510 unread text messages (and counting) and a rain-shortened 3-1 Pirates victory over the San Francisco Giants on Saturday that left the 22-year-old both elated and exhausted.
Tucker admitted he didn’t sleep one bit after getting the call around 1 a.m. telling him he was headed to the big leagues after Pittsburgh lost starting shortstop Erik Gonzalez to a broken collarbone following a collision with center fielder Starling Marte on Friday night.
Funny, the rookie didn’t look a bit tired when he turned on a 91 mph sinker from Derek Holland (1-3) and deposited it between the “T” and the “E” in the “Pirates” bush for a two-run shot in the fifth that put Pittsburgh ahead to stay.
The team’s first-round pick in the 2014 draft kept it together until rounding second, when he saw his teammates celebrating in the dugout and the crowd on its feet. He made the “I Love You” sign to his family in the stands and — after some prodding — stepped back onto the field for a curtain call.
Not bad for a self-proclaimed “skinny, not home-run-hitter guy.”
“It was loud man, people were screaming,” Tucker said. “It was really, really cool. I might never do that again in my life. But to say that I did that and for my family to be here to see that and to introduce myself to this city and this club in that fashion is like, storybook.”
An arrival that gave the Pirates a welcome jolt after losing Gonzalez for at least two months and Marte for 10 days and possibly more after they smacked into each other at full speed while trying to track down a fly ball to center field. Marte is dealing with bruises to both his abdomen and right leg, while Gonzalez will have his left arm in a sling indefinitely.
For a day anyway, the NL Central-leading Pirates overcame their absences thanks in part to the kid with the shaggy hair and the palpable joy, the one who became the first Pittsburgh player to homer in his first big league game since Marte did it on July 26, 2012, against Houston.
“I didn’t show up thinking, oh, I’m stressed thinking Marte got hurt or Erik got hurt or what have you,'” Tucker said. “But it definitely felt like we needed a pick-me-up today, losing two of our boys. So it was sweet to go out and do that.”
Reynolds, acquired from the Giants in a January 2018 trade that sent Andrew McCutchen to San Francisco, laced a single off Holland in the fourth for first major league hit. Jung Ho Kang added his third home run and Jameson Taillon (1-2) allowed one run on four hits with a walk and three strikeouts to win for the first time in five starts this season for the Pirates, who have won five straight.
Steven Duggar laced an RBI single off Taillon in the fifth to tie it, but Tucker’s shot off Holland in the bottom of the inning — one pitch after Tucker stepped out of the box because he was startled by a lightning bolt that flashed over the city skyline — was quickly followed by a delay of 3 hours, 8 minutes, before the game was called. The Giants have dropped four straight and five of six.
“If it wasn’t for bad luck, right now we wouldn’t have any,” San Francisco manager Bruce Bochy said. “That’s how things have been going.”
Holland struck out seven in five innings but Pittsburgh punished his mistakes. Kang crushed a 79 mph breaking ball and sent it well into the seats in left field leading off the fourth. Pablo Reyes started the bottom of the fifth with a walk, moved to second on Taillon’s sacrifice and trotted home on Tucker’s memorable swing.
Asked if he had a problem with Tucker coming out for a curtain call — one Tucker made while Holland was in the middle of striking out Kang — Holland shrugged.
“The kid is living in the moment,” Holland said. “It’s a major league debut and he hit a homer. Good for him. It’s not what I wanted. That’s for sure.”
TRAINER’S ROOM
Pirates: Held 2B Adam Frazier out of the lineup with back spasms. … RHP Jordan Lyles played catch and should be ready for his next start. Lyles took a line drive off his pitching hand against the Giants on Friday.
UP NEXT
The weekend series concludes Sunday when Chris Archer (1-0, 2.00 ERA) faces San Francisco’s Dereck Rodriguez (3-3, 3.63).
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Lyles, Marte, González injured in Pirates’ win over Giants
By ALAN SAUNDERS Associated Press
PITTSBURGH (AP) — Pirates right-hander Jordan Lyles expects to make his next start after an injury scare Friday night.
It’s not so certain if center fielder Starling Marte and shortstop Erik González will be so lucky.
Lyles cruised through six innings before taking a line drive off his pitching hand, Marte and González were pulled after a collision in the field, and short-handed Pittsburgh beat the San Francisco Giants 4-1.
Lyles (2-0) continued his hot start, striking out six and allowing four hits in a scoreless outing that dropped his ERA to a major league-best 0.53. His hand was bruised by Joe Panik’s line drive, which González snagged for an inning-ending double play.
Lyles believes he was able to escape without serious damage.
“I got clipped on a couple fingers,” he said. “In between innings, it just started to swell up a little bit. I felt like we might’ve been better off with another guy out there. I just lost a little feeling, but we’re good to go. We did some tests and we’re good to go. I’ll be ready for my next start.”
In the eighth, Marte charged from center on a softly hit ball by Yangervis Solarte and slammed into González. González walked off, with trainers attending to his left shoulder, which took the brunt of the collision. Marte took longer to get to his feet and was driven off the field on a cart. The team did not provide an update on the status of either player.
Manger Clint Hurdle was not clear as to what caused the collision.
“The last thing I’m going to do is assess blame,” he said. “Sometimes, when you get in those situations, both guys could be calling for the ball simultaneously.”
The Pirates have eight players already on the injured list but haven’t exactly been hampered. They hold the best winning percentage in the NL with an 11-6 record.
Pittsburgh got all of its runs against Madison Bumgarner (1-3) in the first inning. Francisco Cervelli had a two-run double, and Pablo Reyes and JB Shuck added RBI singles.
Bumgarner allowed just two more hits over his final five innings. He struck out seven. He pointed to a two-out walk issued to Jung Ho Kang as the big issue in the first.
“I don’t want to give them a free baserunner out there,” he said. “That’s what we did, and he scored.”
Manager Bruce Bochy thought his team could have done more to pick up its ace. The only San Francisco run came when Buster Posey singled home Solarte in the eighth.
“He bounced back very well,” Bochy said. “He gave us five needed innings after that because we’ve used the ‘pen quite a bit. Hey, he gave us a chance. We’ve got to get these bats going. One run today, not scoring early again is making every game an uphill climb for us.”
The Giants’ next-best scoring opportunity was snuffed out in the second when Brandon Crawford tried to score on a flyball to right, but Melky Cabrera’s throw beat him easily.
Felipe Vázquez struck out the side in the ninth for his sixth save.
NEW LOOK
Cervelli’s two-out double ended an 0-for-24 skid. Cervelli grew a goatee to help change things up in the slump. It took an eight-pitch battle with Bumgarner before he finally broke through.
“I’ve got to keep it now,” he said with a smile.
TRAINER’S ROOM
?Pirates: INF Adam Frazier did not play due to back spasms. … OF Lonnie Chisenhall (broken finger) began his rehab assignment with Triple-A Indianapolis, going 0 for 3. Hurdle said he’s expected to work in left field, right field, at first base and possibly at third base.
UP NEXT
Giants: LHP Derek Holland (1-2, 4.09 ERA) is scheduled to start on Saturday. He’s averaged 11 strikeouts per nine innings through four starts.
Pirates: RHP Jameson Taillon (0-2, 2.43) will make his fifth start of the season. He’s 0-1 with a 9.00 ERA in three career starts against San Francisco.
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Pirates top Tigers in 10 innings again, 3-2
By NOAH TRISTER AP Baseball Writer
DETROIT (AP) — At this point, Clint Hurdle is probably used to managing for more than nine innings.
Colin Moran hit an RBI single in the top of the 10th, and the Pittsburgh Pirates beat the Detroit Tigers 3-2 on Wednesday night. It was the second straight night Hurdle’s Pirates beat Detroit in 10 innings, and it was the sixth extra-inning game already this season for Pittsburgh. Hurdle has guided the Pirates to a 4-2 record in those.
“I’ve been fortunate to have some experience to draw upon, and coaching for some men that had some experience,” Hurdle said. “I’ve had some men that I’ve been able to work with and watch. Sometimes, more than anything, you need to act like you know what you’re doing.”
Spencer Turnbull allowed two hits in six innings for Detroit, but he was denied his first career win after reliever Joe Jiménez loaded the bases with nobody out in the eighth. Daniel Stumpf relieved Jiménez and gave up a tying sacrifice fly to Josh Bell.
Pittsburgh star Starling Marte was beaned by Jiménez during that eighth inning, but he remained in the game and hit a single in the 10th.
The game was played in rainy conditions, and Tigers left fielder Christin Stewart slipped and fell while catching Bell’s flyball in the eighth. Stewart stayed in for his plate appearance in the bottom of the inning, then left with a right quad injury.
In the middle of the eighth, there was an announcement telling fans to leave the seating area because of severe weather in the area, but the teams played on. Eventually, fans were told they could return, and there were plenty of good seats available down near the field.
Adam Frazier led off the 10th with a double off Buck Farmer (1-1), and Marte and Moran followed with singles, giving the Pirates the lead. Nick Burdi (2-1) pitched a perfect ninth, and Felipe Vázquez finished for his fifth save in five chances.
“Obviously, it’s a welcome challenge when you’re playing close games every day,” Moran said. “That means you’re in every game, and you’ve got a chance to win.”
Turnbull allowed only an unearned run in the fourth in his seventh career start.
“I was pretty happy with myself, although I had one stretch in the middle that wasn’t good,” Turnbull said. “I was able to get it back, though. I was sailing a few pitches, but I made an adjustment and pretty much started hitting my spots again.”
Pittsburgh starter Trevor Williams allowed two runs in six innings.
Pittsburgh took a 1-0 lead in the fourth. With two outs, Detroit shortstop Ronny Rodríguez couldn’t handle Jung Ho Kang’s hard grounder, letting it past for an error. Bell came home from second on that play.
The Tigers pushed across two runs in their half of that inning. With the bases loaded and one out, Rodríguez lifted a fly to left. Jason Martin made the catch, but his throw home was a bit off line, and Miguel Cabrera was safe on a close play.
John Hicks followed with an RBI single to left that landed in front of Martin, who appeared to get a late break on the ball.
Pittsburgh has won nine of 12.
SCARY MOMENT
Jiménez, making his 100th career appearance, gave up a single and a walk before hitting Marte with a pitch that may have glanced off the Pittsburgh slugger’s shoulder but also appeared to hit him around the left ear flap on his helmet. He was slow getting up but stayed in.
“They’re always horrible,” Hurdle said. “We’ve obviously been through a few of them now, both with shots off the mound and shots at the plate.”
TRAINER’S ROOM
Tigers: Detroit has lost LHP Matt Moore for the season after he had knee surgery. Manager Ron Gardenhire updated Moore’s status before the game.
UP NEXT
Pirates: Pittsburgh has Thursday off before starting a home series with San Francisco. RHP Jordan Lyles (1-0) starts for the Pirates against LHP Madison Bumgarner (1-2) on Friday night.
Tigers: Detroit hosts a four-game set against the Chicago White Sox. RHP Tyson Ross (1-2) takes the mound for the Tigers on Thursday against RHP Ivan Nova (0-2).
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Follow Noah Trister at www.Twitter.com/noahtrister
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