San Francisco Giants Rafeal Devers rounds the bases after hitting his 32nd home run of the season in the top of the first inning against the Pittsburgh Pirates at PNC Park in Pittsburgh on Wed Sep 2, 2026 (AP News photo)

By Barbara Mason

After a marathon game Tuesday, the San Francisco Giants (58-82) took on the Pittsburgh Pirates (68-72) in game two of their three-game series and edged the Bucs with a 5-4 win at PNC Park in Pittsburgh.

After playing a 4 1/2 hour long game, and that was regulation on Tuesday, the two teams didn’t suffer any fatigue in Wednesday’s game and had a shorter evening playing a 2:57 ball game.

The first inning in Wednesday’s game was quiet for the Pirates but the Giant’s Rafael Devers put San Francisco first up on the scoreboard with a solo home run and a 1-0 lead. The Pirates would tie up the game in the fourth inning and it was a new ball game 1-1.

The Giants fought back scoring two runs in the fifth inning and took the 3-1 lead into the seventh The Pirates began to inch their way back into this game scoring a run in the bottom of the seventh and another in the eighth inning tying up this game.

There would be no walk-off for Pittsburgh this time and the game went into extra innings. The San Francisco offense stepped up in the top of the tenth. Bryce Eldridge doubled and Christian Koss scored giving the Giants the lead 4-3.

A Turner Hill sacrifice drove Rafael Devers who had been intentionally walked home and San Francisco had an insurance run taking the 5-3 lead into the bottom of the tenth.

After giving up a single to Nick Gonzalez which drove in Bryan Reynolds San Franciso closer Dylan Smith took control of this game. He struck out the next two at bats and Rafael Flores Jr. lined out and that was the ball game. San Francisco had crossed the finish line and won this game and tied up this series.

GAME RECAP

Pittsburgh’s starting pitcher Bubba Chandler gave up a solo home run in the first inning to San Francisco’s Rafael Devers and the Giants had a early 1-0 lead in game two of their series. San Francisco starter Landen Roupp went three and out.

Both pitchers had solid second innings going three and out each of them striking out two batters in the inning.

The Giants had an opportunity to add to their score in the third inning loading the bases. Turner Hill fouled out for the third out leaving the three runners stranded. Landen Roupp had another good inning going three and out.

In the top of the fourth inning, Pirates pitcher Bubba Chandler dismissed Jung Hoo Lee, Drew Cavanaugh and Nate Furman in that order and the game went into the bottom of the inning.

San Francisco starting pitcher Landen Roupp struggled through the bottom of the inning. He gave up a couple of singles and a walk loading the bases. He walked Esmerlyn Valdez for his second walk of the inning and with the bases loaded Spencer Horwitz scored and this game was tied 1-1. Roupp would get out of the inning without further damage.

The Giants went on a rally in the top of the fifth inning. Shay Whitcomb doubled, Drew Gilbert walked and Rafael Devers singled; San Francisco again had the bases loaded. The Giants cashed in this time. Bryce Eldridge hit a sacrifice Christian Koss scored from second and San Francisco had taken back the lead 2-1.

Turner Hill singled Gilbert home and the Giants had a 3-1 lead going into the bottom of the fifth. Landen Roupp wanted to finish off the bottom of the inning strong and he successfully went three and out. It was a great shut-down inning for Roupp.

The Pirates went into their bullpen to start the sixth inning. Branden Eisert came in to relieve Bubba Chandler. He gave up a single to Cavanaugh but closed out the inning. The Giants Ryan Walker took over on the mound for Landen Roupp in the bottom of the sixth inning. He gave up a double and a walk but kept the Pirates from scoring.

The Giants went three and out in the top of the seventh inning. The Pirates threatened in the bottom of the inning. With two runners on base, the Giants made a pitching change.

Carson Seymour relieved Walker who had allowed a Rafael Flores Jr. walk and a Jake Mangum single to start the bottom of the seventh. Jared Triolo hit a sacrifice bunt and the Pirates had the bases loaded. Spencer Horwitz grounded out but Flores Jr. scored and Pittsburgh was knocking on the door trailing 3-2.

The Giants had a quick top of the eighth unable to extend their lead. They badly needed an insurance run or two. The San Francisco lack of offense bit them in the bottom of the eighth inning. Carson Seymour gave up a double to the dangerous Bryan Reynolds and Oneil Cruz hit an infield single and Reynolds scored tying up this game 3-3.

It was a three and out in the top of the ninth inning for Pirates reliever Carmen Mlodzinski. Pittsburgh would be looking for another walk-off in the bottom of the ninth. Jason Foley took the mound for San Francisco looking to keep this game tied. He gave up a double and an intentional walk but thanks to some amazing defensive work from the Giants this game went into the top of the tenth inning.

The top of the tenth inning went the Giants way from the get-go. Osleivis Basabe hit a sacrifice bunt that advanced Christian Koss to third base. Rafael Devers was intentionally walked and with two runners on base, Bryce Eldridge doubled and Koss scored.

San Francisco had taken back the lead 4-3. Turner Hill who was having a great day hit a sacrifice, Devers scored and the Giants had a 5-3 lead going into the bottom of the tenth. Could San Francisco get this game to the finish line?

It would be up to Dylan Smith to close this one out. Smith did give up one run but struck out the next two at bats followed by a Flores Jr. line out and that was the ball game. The Giants had tied up this series winning in extra innings 5-4.

GAME RECAP

Wednesday night’s game was a far happier story than the wild loss Tuesday. The Giants came back to win this game 5-4 in 10 innings. Rafael Devers got the Giants going in the right direction with his solo home run in the first inning which was his 32nd of the season.

Landen Roupp pitched well keeping the Giants in this game working through some difficult situations. Turner Hill had a great game factoring in a number of innings. His single in the fifth inning put San Francisco ahead 3-1.

The Pirates fought back and tied the game sending it into extra innings. The Giants broke through in the top of the tenth inning scoring twice to take a 5-3 lead into the bottom of the tenth. Dylan Smith did give up a run in the tenth but pulled it all together closing out the inning and winning this game for the Giants. This was an excellent bounce-back win for San Francisco.

Landen Roupp had a very good outing today. He went five innings, only allowing two hits, one run, two walks and four strikeouts. Of the 75 pitches thrown 46 were strikes. He did not allow a home run.

He held it together after Pittsburgh scored in the fourth inning settling in efficiently. He retired the side in order in the fifth and left the Giants with the lead 3-1. He kept the Pirate lineup under control, struck out the four and gave San Francisco five solid innings.

Thursday the Giants will be looking to take this series in game three. RHP Blade Tidwell will take the mound for the Giants. He has a 0-1 win/loss record and a 4.54 ERA. The Pirates will start RHP Lake Bachar (1-3 ERA 3.70) in Thursday’s game. First pitch is scheduled for 9:35 AM.