James McCann’s RBI single in the top of the 12th proved to be the difference in the Arizona Diamondbacks’ wild 8-7 victory over the host Pittsburgh Pirates on Tuesday night.
The Diamondbacks reclaimed sole possession of the third wild-card spot in the National League and a one-game lead over the Pirates and Washington Nationals despite Pittsburgh overcoming a 6-0 deficit heading into the eighth inning.
McCann recorded four hits overall, and drove in automatic runner Tyler Locklear with his final hit off Pirates rookie reliever Wilber Dotel (1-3).
Arizona rookie reliever Gerardo Carrillo (1-0) closed the door on the Pirates in the bottom of the 12th to record his first career win. Carrillo stranded Pittsburgh’s automatic runner Billy Cook after inducing a groundout by Nick Gonzales and striking out Endy Rodriguez and Tyler Callihan.
Diamondbacks starter Brandon Pfaadt continued his recent strong pitching, tossing seven scoreless innings. But Arizona’s bullpen collapse kept him from extending his streak of five consecutive starts with a win.
Pittsburgh broke through in the eighth with three runs off reliever Ryan Thompson, starting with a two-out RBI double by Ryan O’Hearn. Rodriguez followed with an RBI single to score O’Hearn. Marcell Ozuna hit a liner just out of the reach of shortstop Geraldo Perdomo to drive in Gonzales and cut the Diamondbacks’ lead to 6-3. Brandyn Garcia shut down the rally by striking out pinch hitter Jared Triolo.
Brandon Lowe crushed his 22nd home run of the season — a 415-foot, two-run blast to right center field — off closer Paul Sewald to cut the deficit to 6-5 in the ninth inning. Bryan Reynolds then tied the game with a solo home run — his 15th this season — to right center. It was Sewald’s third blown save and second in his past three appearances.
Pfaadt struck out four, walked one and allowed six hits, including doubles to Esmerlyn Valdez and Lowe. Pittsburgh’s biggest threat to Pfaadt came in the bottom of the fourth when they put runners at the corners with two outs on Valdez’s double and a single by Gonzales. But Rodriguez grounded out to end the inning.
Nolan Arenado had three hits and an RBI, and Corbin Carroll and Ryan Waldschmidt each had two hits. Lowe, Gonzales, O’Hearn, Jake Mangum and Marcell Ozuna each had two hits for Pittsburgh. Pirates starter Bubba Chandler allowed five runs (four earned), struck out three and walked one in four innings.
