PITTSBURGH — Randy Rodríguez blew his first save since being elevated to the closer role, allowing two runs in the bottom of the ninth as the Giants fell to the Pittsburgh Pirates 5-4 on Monday night at PNC Park.
Rodríguez began the bottom of the ninth inning by walking Andrew McCutchen, and the Pirates sent in Alexander Canario to pinch-run. Rodriguez then plunked Jack Suwinski, giving the Pirates runners on first and second with one out.
That set the table for former Giant Joey Bart, who lined a single over the outstretched glove of shortstop Willy Adames and tied the game at 4-4. Bart’s single also put runners at first and third with one out, giving the Pirates a golden opportunity to win the game.
Win the game, they did.
Isiah Kiner-Falefa hit a slow roller to first baseman Rafael Devers, and Suwinski bolted to the plate on contact. Devers fielded the ball and fired a throw home to catcher Patrick Bailey, who tried to apply the tag for the out. Suwinski was called safe, and following a replay review, the call was confirmed.
Justin Verlander allowed one unearned run over five innings with four strikeouts and took a no-decision.
The Giants effectively forced the Pirates into a quasi-bullpen game when they made Johan Oviedo, making his first start since Sept. 27, 2023, throw 43 pitches in the first inning, ending his night after just one frame. During that inning, San Francisco took a 2-0 lead on Dominic Smith’s RBI single and Casey Schmitt’s bases-loaded walk.
Verlander’s unearned run in the first inningwas the product of an error by left fielder Heliot Ramos. The Pirates’ Spencer Horwitz led off the inning with a single, but Ramos’ inability to field the ball cleanly resulted in Horwitz taking second base. Horwitz advanced to third on a groundout by Tommy Pham, then scored on a sacrifice fly from Nick Gonzales.
Jung Hoo Lee, fresh off the first four-hit game of his career on Sunday, increased the Giants’ lead to 4-1 with a triple to right-center field, narrowly beating the throw to third. Two innings later, the Pirates brought the score to 4-3 on Suwinski’s two-run homer off rookie reliever Carson Seymour.