The Pirates snapped a four game losing streak on Saturday, the Cleveland Guardians.
Left-hander Luis Ortiz worked six shutout innings for his second consecutive start, striking out five batters and allowing just one hit.
Second baseman Nick Gonzales managed three hits and scored two runs, sparking both of Pittsburgh’s scoring rallies.
Recap:
Despite Ortiz’s excellent performance, he struggled with control early, walking a batter in each of the first two innings and throwing just 53 of 87 pitches for strikes.
Gonzales doubled to lead off the fourth inning, then Andrew McCutchen roped a 2-2 single the opposite way to bring him home.
Cleveland threatened in the fifth. Another walk issued before a Bo Naylor single looked like the beginning of a two-out rally, but Ortiz rebounded to induce a groundout and maintain the lead.
Pittsburgh put two aboard with no one out in the seventh—and later loaded the bases—but two strikeouts and a Henry Davis flyout killed the rally.
Bryan Reynolds walked and Gonzales singled with one away in the eighth. Oneil Cruz beat out an infield single to load the bases with two outs, then a Rowdy Tellez pinch hit single pushed the lead to 3-0. Dennis Santana and Aroldis Chapman retired the side in the eighth and ninth innings, respectively, sealing the win.
Key Moment:
With two on and one out, the Pirates clinging to a 1-0 lead, Cleveland looked ready to tie things up or take the lead. Bryan Reynolds made a leaping catch at the wall before firing to second base for the inning ending double play. Pittsburgh’s two run rally the following inning helped them seize momentum and put the game away.
Star of the Game:
Gonzales, who went 3-for-5 with a double and two runs scored.
Stat of Interest:
Ortiz has now thrown 15 consecutive shutout innings, a career best for the 25-year-old.
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