Gregory Polanco walks it off in Pirates’ 3-2 win over Giants

EL COFFEE!

The Pittsburgh Pirates raised the Jolly Roger thanks to a walk-off sacrifice fly from the longest-tenured player on the roster, Gregory Polanco.

In the 3-2 win, the Pirates trailed 1-0 heading into the ninth inning, but Adam Frazier and Kevin Newman got on base and Bryan Reynolds brought Frazier home to tie the game.

The Pirates had their chance to win with no outs and a runner in scoring position in the ninth inning, but Jake McGee then struck out the next three batters to send the Pirates into their second extra-inning affair in three days.

The teams were held scoreless in the 10th, but in the 11th, the Giants scored their second run of the game as Austin Slater singled to score Brandon Crawford.

In the bottom of the 11th, the Pirates responded with an Adam Frazier triple to score the incumbent runner Michael Perez. Then, after Kevin Newman recorded the first out of the inning, the Giants intentionally walked Bryan Reynolds and Will Craig to load the bases for Gregory Polanco to try and force a double play.

Then, well, this happened...

It’d be hard to talk about the Pirates win without commending the pitching staff, who was sensational tonight.

Miguel Yajure, making just his second MLB start, pitched five scoreless innings. Then, he handed it off to the bullpen. Sam Howard struck out the side in the sixth, Duane Underwood Jr. pitched the seventh and the eighth, giving up just one run. Then David Bednar and Richard Rodriguez kept the deficit at one with a hitless eighth and ninth.

Considering how poor the offense has been as of late, the Pirates are still able to pick up wins because the pitching has picked up the slack.

And luckily for the Pirates, there was just enough offense to get the job done tonight.

The Pirates and Giants meet again Saturday. First pitch is set for 6:35 p.m. EST.