Veteran infielder Adam Frazier delivered a clutch performance on Friday night, notching three hits and scoring the winning run as the Pittsburgh Pirates edged the Philadelphia Phillies 5-4 in a dramatic ninth-inning comeback at PNC Park.
Frazier Sparks Ninth-Inning Rally
With the game tied 4-4 heading into the bottom of the ninth, Frazier kicked off the inning with a sharp single off Phillies reliever Jordan Romano (0-3). Jared Triolo followed with another single, and Isiah Kiner-Falefa laid down a perfect bunt to load the bases with no outs.
After a strikeout by Oneil Cruz, Nick Gonzales stepped up and connected on a 2-2 slider, sending a deep fly to the warning track in center. Frazier tagged up and scored, securing the walk-off win for Pittsburgh.
Back-and-Forth Game Early On
The Phillies drew first blood in the opening inning as Trea Turner singled, stole third, and scored on a Nick Castellanos grounder. The Pirates answered in the second with an RBI single from Bryan Reynolds.
Turner was a force all night, finishing with three hits, including a double in the third inning that set up Alec Bohm’s go-ahead single. Reynolds responded again for Pittsburgh with his eighth home run of the season, tying the game at 2-2.
Turner gave Philadelphia a 4-2 lead in the fourth with a two-run single, but Henry Davis launched a two-run homer in the bottom half to bring the Pirates even once more.
Pitching Duels and Key Moments
Despite allowing four runs in just 3 2/3 innings, Pirates starter Bailey Falter kept his team within striking distance. The bullpen held firm from there, with Chase Shugart, Caleb Ferguson, Dennis Santana, and David Bednar combining to allow only two hits and one walk while striking out eight.
In the eighth, Phillies reliever Matt Strahm struck out the side in dominant fashion. Bednar responded in kind in the ninth, freezing Turner with a devastating curveball to end the top half of the inning. That set the stage for Frazier’s heroics.
Endy Rodríguez Leaves Game with Injury
The Pirates suffered a setback when catcher Endy Rodríguez exited the game due to right elbow discomfort. The team announced he is undergoing evaluation, and his status moving forward remains uncertain.
What’s Next?
The series continues on Saturday with Ranger Suárez (4-0, 2.72 ERA) starting for the Phillies, while the Pirates will send out Andrew Heaney (3-4, 3.39 ERA) in hopes of securing a series win.