PITTSBURGH — The Giants rallied for three runs in the final two innings to defeat the Pirates, 4-2, Wednesday afternoon in the rubber match of the series against the Pirates at PNC Park.
Trailing 2-1 in the top of the eighth inning, the Giants tied the game after a leadoff single by Patrick Bailey, a one-out walk from Rafael Devers, a single by Willy Adames and a sacrifice fly from Matt Chapman. An inning later, Dominic Smith doubled home Jung Hoo Lee and later scored on a Bailey single.
Earlier in the game, Jerar Encarnacion teed-off on a middle-middle fastball from Andrew Heaney, belting it a Statcast-projected 442 feet into the second level of left-field seating at PNC Park. It was the second consecutive game that Encarnacion left his mark on a game by slugging a 400-plus foot home run against Pittsburgh. He later exited with an injury after grounding out in the top of the seventh.
The lack of offense early on was buoyed by a dominant outing on the mound by Robbie Ray. The southpaw allowed a run in a 26-pitch first inning via a pair of walks and base hits, but settled in soon after. Ray ended up allowing just two runs over six strong innings, striking out eight batters and walking just two. It marked the third time in as many days that a San Francisco starter allowed two or fewer runs over five or more innings. After Ray’s departure, three Giants relievers combined to post zeroes on the scoreboard the rest of the way to secure the victory.
