Pittsburgh Pirates’ Connor Joe (2) is congratulated by Jack Suwinski (65) after hitting a home run against the San Francisco Giants during the first inning at Oracle Park in San Francisco on Tue May 30, 2023 (AP News photo)

By Tony the Tiger Hayes

SAN FRANCISCO-A day after the Giants scored 14 runs against the Pirates, San Francisco had trouble making solid against Pittsburgh pitching losing 2-1.

The Giants managed to work seven walks off five Pirates pitchers, but just five hits in the loss.

After playing sourly most off May the Pirates hope tonight’s win bodes good fortunes for June.

The Pittsburgh club currently visiting the City by the Bay are a far version of the Pirates that shot out of the gate this season and opened eyes around baseball like a triple shot of espresso from Cafe Trieste.

After beginning the 2023 campaign 20-8, the youthful Pirates had people thinking the long struggling franchise had finally turned the corner.

No, no one was seriously considering the Pirates winning their first World Series title in 44 years this season.

But at least the Bucs – who went 20 straight seasons without a winning record after Barry Bonds left them to join the Giants after the 1992 season – had a vibrancy to them .

However, in recent weeks the Pirates’ ship has begun taking on water, losing 19 of their past 25 games and dropping in the standings as if it were weighed down by fools gold.

The Giants meanwhile have been the opposite version of Pirates. After struggling to string together wins the first month of the season the Giants have surged in May going 17-10 and climbing up the standings in the NL West into third place.

The club produced their most impressive win on Memorial Day, knocking the embarrassed Pirates into McCovey Cove with a dominating 18-hit, 14-4 win.

With the win Sunday, San Francisco moved a season best two games games over .500 (28-26). The battered Bucs (26-27) fell under .500 for the first time since April 2.

Tuesday night at Oracle Park however, the Pirates drew blood first when short-lived former Giant Connor Joe – San Francisco’s opening day left field starter in 2019 – clubbed a soaring solo home run down down the left field line off Giants “opener” John Brebbia to make it 1-0.

But the Giants didn’t waist any time tying the game in the bottom of the first off Pirates starter Johan Oviedo. After the young righty issued back to back walks to Mike Yastrzemski and J.D. Davis, Michael Conforto hammer a run scoring single to left.

The action reached a crescendo in the top of the fifth when Giants rookie catcher Patrick Bailey put on a defensive display that would have made Johnny Bench proud.

After the Pirates took a 2-1 lead on a wild pitch by Giants reliever Sean Manaea, Bailey went to work showing why the used a No.1 pick on the receiver a few years back.

With base runner Jason Delay charging hard from third on a sharp ground ball to Giants first baseman Lamont Wade, Bailey artfully blocked home plate and applied a sweeping tag on Delay for the putout. Pittsburgh challenged the play, but video showed conclusive evidence of the out.

With Andrew McCutchen up next, Palacios strayed too far off first and Bailey threw a dart to first to pickoff the hapless Bucco.