On a day where Joe Musgrove allowed five runs, the offense picked up the slack just enough to get Joe off the hook for the loss and then some. It was a rough, four run, 5th inning that tarnished Musgrove’s effort. Thankfully, Pittsburgh had six players record multi-hit games in the contest, one of which was Monday night’s hero, Jacob Stallings, as he delivered the walk off single in the bottom of the 9th inning to secure Pittsburgh’s game one victory.
Here’s how the scoring went:
Kansas City kicked the scoring off in the top of the 3rd inning thanks to some small ball. Whitt Merrifield led the inning off with a single to left and Mondesi followed up with a bunt down the first base line. Musgrove made a slick sliding play, capped with a shovel pass to first base to get Mondesi out, but the sacrifice was successful as Merrifield reached second. That set the table for Alex Gordon, who doubled on the next pitch, scoring Merrifield.
The Pirates would answer quickly in their half of the 3rd when Adam Frazier would hit a one out single up the middle, reach second on a Starling Marte ground out, and finally score on a Corey Dickerson single to left, knotting the game at one.
Frazier would help with the run production in another way in the 4th inning. With one out, Kevin Newman and Jacob Stallings delivered back to back singles, setting the table for Adam Frazier. Frazier stepped in the box with two outs and runners at the corners. After fouling a ball badly off of his right knee, Frazier delivered a double to right, scoring Newman and Stallings. Pablo Reyes would enter the game to pinch run for Adam before Marte struck out to end the inning.
Milwaukee would answer in a big way as they pounded out five hits and a sacrifice fly while on their way to throwing up a four spot in the 5th inning. Royals’ pitcher, Brad Keller, singled on a ground ball to right for his first major league base hit. Mondesi singled with one out to place runners at first and second. Alex Gordon, Sal Perez, and Ryan O’hearn would follow up with two singles and a double, Scoring Keller, Mondesi, and eventually Gordon. Perez would finally score on a Bonifacio sacrifice fly before the inning finally concluded with the score of 5-3, in favor of Kansas City.
Pittsburgh’s first spot in the batting order helped catalize the scoring in the 7th inning, once again, as Pablo Reyes singled to lead off the inning, reached second on a single by Marte, and eventually score on yet another single from Bell. This brought the Pirates within one run, heading into the 8th inning.
After Steven Brault pitched a scoreless 7th inning, Ryan O’Hearn homered on the second pitch of the 8th inning, extending Kansas City’s lead to two runs again. This would end Brault’s evening as Feliz would enter in relief to complete the 8th inning without any more damage.
The Pirates would engage the comeback effort with two outs in the bottom half of the inning. After Newman and Stallings were retired, Jose Osuna reached on an infield single and advanced to second on a wild pitch. Pablo Reyes delivered an infield single, as well, but Ryan O’Hearn was unable to handle Dozier’s throw from third, which allowed Osuna to score and bring the Pirates within one. Marte would step in after Reyes and deliver a game tying triple to right field.
Edgar Santana pitched a quick and scoreless 9th inning before turning it over to Pittsburgh’s offense. Bell walked to lead off the inning but wasn’t on the base paths for long as Luplow grounded into a double play immediately thereafter. Then, with two outs, rookies Kramer and Newman got to work. Kramer worked a walk and Newman followed up with a single to left to set the stage for Jacob Stallings. With a 1-2 count, Stallings lined a curveball into left field, scoring Kramer as the Pirates walked it off.
Final Score: Pirates 7, Royals 6
W: Santana (3-3) L: Lively (0-3)
Pittsburgh will go again on Tuesday night at 7:05pm EDT as they send Jameson Taillon to the hill to face Eric Skoglund.