Pirates erase – Trailing early by five runs, the Pittsburgh Pirates stormed back with a six-run fifth inning and later got Endy Rodriguez’s three-run homer in the ninth to beat the Philadelphia Phillies 11-7 on Monday night.
PHILADELPHIA — The Phillies jumped out in front early, turning the first innings into a statement. Trea Turner and Brandon Marsh each homered in the first inning, and Bryce Harper hit his 20th home run of the season in the third.
Then Braxton Ashcraft ran into trouble, with Philadelphia scoring five runs before the Pirates could properly settle in. Yet the game’s turning point arrived when it looked like it might belong entirely to the home team.
Pittsburgh finally found its rhythm against Aaron Nola. The Pirates posted a six-run fifth inning against the struggling starter, helping them escape a 5-run deficit and flip the momentum. By the time Endy Rodriguez capped the finish with a three-run homer in the ninth, the score had swung to 11-7.
Nola’s afternoon unraveled after a rough start. After easing through the first three innings. Bryan Reynolds hit a double off the top of the left field fence. and Esmerlyn Valdez followed with a home run to left to cut the Phillies’ lead to 5-2. In the fifth, Nola allowed a leadoff home run to Jared Triolo, his first of the season.
Nola left with the game tied at 5. Reliever Seth Johnson then gave up an RBI single to Tyler Callihan. and a Turner error helped boost Pittsburgh’s lead to 8-5. Ashcraft (8-3) settled down and went six innings for the win. while the Pirates’ offense continued to press at the exact moments Philadelphia’s pitching faltered.
Philadelphia pushed back in the eighth, cutting the deficit with two more runs. Marsh hit his second homer of the game, and J.T. Realmuto singled home Bryson Stott. With two on and two outs, Pirates reliever Yohan Ramirez struck out Justin Crawford to keep the pressure off the tying run.
The closing moment came in the ninth. Rodriguez homered on a two-out pitch off reliever Chase Shugart, giving Pittsburgh the cushion it needed. Mason Montgomery closed for the Pirates.
Up next, the Pirates will send RHP Bubba Chandler (3-7, 4.42 ERA) to the mound Tuesday night against Phillies ace LHP Cristopher Sanchez (9-3, 2.13 ERA).
Pirates Phillies Esmerlyn Valdez Jared Triolo Endy Rodriguez Braxton Ashcraft Aaron Nola Trea Turner Bryce Harper J.T. Realmuto MLB