By Daniel Dullum
Sports Radio Service
Friday, May 14, 2021

Gregory Polanco’s 11th inning, bases loaded sacrifice fly gave Pittsburgh a 3-2 win over San Francisco Friday night at PNC Park in what started out as a pitching duel – all of the scoring occurred after the seventh inning.

The Giants slipped to 23-15, still leading the National League West by 2 games over San Diego. The Pirates are in last place in the NL Central, 7 games out of first place.

Pittsburgh brought in Luis Oviedo (1-1) to face the Giants in the top of the 11th. After Brandon Crawford was placed at second, Mauricio Dubon flied out to center, moving Crawford to third. Austin Slater delivered a base hit to right, plating Crawford with the go-ahead run.

With Caleb Baragar (2-1) on the mound for San Francisco, the Pirates forged their game-winning rally. Michael Perez was placed at second and scored on Adam Frazier’s triple to right, tying the game at 2-2. After Kevin Newman popped out to short, Bryan Reynolds and Will Craig were both intentionally walked.

Polanco followed with a sacrifice fly to center, driving in Frazier with the winning run.

Crawford broke the scoreless deadlock with a solo home run in the top of the ninth, putting San Francisco up 1-0. The Pirates responded with an RBI single by Bryan Reynolds that sent the game into extra innings.

Frazier led off the Pittsburgh ninth with a single, moved to third on Newman’s single and scored when Reynolds singled to right.

Giants starter Kevin Gausman struck out 12 without a walk, giving up one earned run on five hits. Closer Jake McGee was charged with his second blown save of the season, and Tyler Rogers threw a scoreless 10th.

Miguel Yajure surrendered one hit in his five-inning start for the Bucs, with four strikeouts and a walk. Sam Howard, David Bednar and Richard Rodriguez each threw a scoreless inning in relief.

Johnny Cueto (2-1, 3.52) starts for San Francisco on Saturday, facing the Pirates’ Tyler Anderson (3-3, 3.05).