Late-inning rally lifts Pirates to 6-5 win over Diamondbacks

For the fifth time this season, the Pirates came back from a four-run deficit as they rallied for four runs in the final three innings to beat the Arizona Diamondbacks, 6-5, in the series opener Monday night.

After starter Wil Crowe pitched a seamless first inning, Diamondbacks right fielder Daulton Varsho hit a 408-foot home run into the Arizona bullpen to give his club an early lead. The Pirates were held in check by Humberto Mejia throughout the first rotation of their lineup, however they came alive in the bottom of the fourth inning as Colin Moran doubled to open the frame and Jacob Stallings drove him in with a double of his own.

Arizona would re-capture the lead in the fifth after an RBI single by Ketel Marte put the snakes ahead by a run. Christian Walker cleared the bases shortly after with a single to center. Chasen Shreve would relieve Crowe after this and forced Varsho to fly out and kill the momentum.

Ben Gamel led off the bottom of the fifth with his third triple of the season to the alley in left center field. Bryan Reynolds would bring him in after grounding out to Nick Ahmed.

After both teams held each other scoreless for the next inning-and-a-half, Yoshi Tsutsugo sparked the Bucs’ late-inning rally in the bottom of the seventh with his third home run of the season.

A Reynolds triple would add another, and Colin Moran would drive in the tying run after reaching on a throwing error by Asdrubal Cabrera.

Anthony Banda would maintain the momentum for Pittsburgh in the top of the eighth by retiring Varsho, Ahmed and Pavin Smith on strikeouts.

Diamondbacks reliever Noe Ramirez would walk the bases loaded in the bottom of the eighth, setting up Ke’Bryan Hayes to drive in the go-ahead run on a fielder’s choice.

Pittsburgh-native David Bednar would tuck the Diamondbacks in with a 1-2-3 top of the ninth, notching his second save with the Pirates and his first in front of his hometown fans.

One Pirates player who had a prolific day defensively was Kevin Newman, who made three Jeter-esque plays at shortstop.

The Pirates (45-80) and Diamondbacks (42-84) return to PNC Park Tuesday night for game two of the three-game slate.