Pittsburgh Pirates runner Jack Suwinski (left) slides in safely for the game winning run ahead of San Francisco Giants catcher Patrick Bailey’s (14) tag as umpire Ryan Addison makes the safe call in the ninth inning at PNC Park in Pittsburgh (AP News photo)

By Barbara Mason

It was looking pretty good for the San Francisco Giants (56-57) going into the bottom of the ninth inning in the first game of their series with the Pittsburgh Pirates (49-64). Despite it being a one-run game, San Francisco brought in their most successful closer Randy Rodriguez.

It was a surprising inning from Rodriguez who walked the first batter followed by hitting the next batter Jack Suwinski. Joey Bart tied up the game 4-4 with a single.

With only one out, Isiah Kiner-Falefa grounded into a fielder’s choice Suwinski scored from third and that was the ball game with the Pirates coming from behind and winning 5-4. The Giants again fall under five hundred for the third time this season and the Pirates won the first game of the series after sweeping San Francisco at Oracle last week.

San Francisco scored two runs in the first inning taking a 2-0 lead. Dominic Smith singled Willie Adames home and Casey Schmitt walked with the bases loaded bringing Francisco Devers home for the second run.

It was a horrible start for Pirates pitcher Oviedo who allowed two singles and three walks. He loaded the bases to start the inning giving up a single for the the first run and with the bases remaining loaded walked Casey Schmitt home for the second run of the inning.

The Pirates got up on the scoreboard in the bottom of the first inning with a single run. Spencer Horwitz scored from second base . He reached second base on a fielding error from Heliot Ramos and scored on a Nick Gonzales sacrifice. They had cut the Giants lead in half.

Neither team was able to score in the second, third or fourth innings and going into the fifth inning the Giants were hanging onto a 2-1 lead. San Francisco had a few singles in the third inning but neither team had runners in scoring position for the next three innings.

Justin Verlander finished the game going five innings only allowing three hits, one run, one walk and four strikeouts. He was relieved by Carson Seymour in the sixth inning. Seymour pitched into the seventh inning.

Jung Hoo Lee had a monster hit in the fifth inning, a triple that brought both Willie Adames and Matt Chapman home taking a 4-1 lead.

When it looked like the Giants would take the 4-1 lead into the eighth inning the Pirates Jack Suwinski hit a two run home run and it was a one-run game, the Giants leading 4-3. Giants pitcher Carson Seymour unfortunately walked the first at bat that he faced to start the bottom of the seventh giving up the two runs.

Spencer Bivens took over on the mount in the bottom of the eighth inning looking to protect the Giants one run lead after San Francisco went three and out to start the inning. Bivens gave up a single and with two outs Randy Rodriguez came in to try and get the final four outs. The Giants were able to tag Nick Gonzales out at second for the third out and the Giants were three outs away from winning the first game of the series.

The top of the ninth inning got underway with the Giants looking for at least one insurance run. Pittsburgh pitcher Dauri Moreta carved up the Giants with a fly out, a strikeout and a lineout. It would be up to Randy Rodriguez to save the game for San Francisco.

With one out in the bottom of the ninth inning, Rodriguez had walked Andrew McCutchen and went on to hit Jack Suwinski putting two runners on base. After going hitless for the entire game Joey Bart got a hit to center field allowing McCutchen to score from second base tying up the game 4-4.

In a most disappointing finish to this game Isiah Kiner-Falefa grounded into a fielder’s choice and Suwinski scored for the 5-4 walk-off. It was an especially tough loss for Giants closer Randy Rodriguez who had been dominant this season.

Game notes: After taking a series off the New York Mets over the weekend, the Giants took on the Pirates ( at PNC Park. The Giants had a blowout win over the Mets yesterday winning the game 12-6. In late July, the Pirates swept the Giants at Oracle and Monday night the Pirates continued on that path taking the first game of the series at PNC.

After winning the series over a very good Mets team the Giants looked to have turned a corner going forward and are hoping to finish strong in the next two months. Monday night Justin Verlander was looking for his second win of the season but didn’t get the decision as the Giants lost it after Verlander had left.

After a rough start in this three game series the Giants will be looking to even up the series in game two. Logan Webb will take the mound in Tuesday’s game. He comes into the game with a 9-8 win/loss record and a 3.31 ERA. The Pirates plan on starting Mike Burrows who has a 1-3 win/loss record and a 3.88 ERA. First pitch for this game is scheduled 3:40 PM.