Relentless Pirates plate 6 in 7th-inning rally

PITTSBURGH -- After recording the final out of the sixth inning, a flyout to right-center field, Adam Frazier figured he wouldn’t get to hit in the seventh. Two outs, five hits and a walk later, Frazier stepped to the plate and launched a two-run triple that bounced high off the Clemente Wall.

It was that kind of night for the Pirates -- that kind of inning, really. Manager Clint Hurdle often praises his lineup for never quitting even when they’re seemingly out of it, and they showed it again by putting up six runs in the seventh inning of their 9-4 comeback win over the Cardinals on Friday night at PNC Park.

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“The thing in baseball is keep fighting. It’s 27 outs. We never give up,” José Osuna said. “We have to try to take that opportunity the other team gave to us. That’s good.”

The Bucs’ bats managed only one run in the first six innings against the National League Central-leading Cardinals, and they entered the seventh trailing by three runs. Then came an offensive outburst during which they sent 10 men to the plate against three different relievers, scored all six of their runs with two outs and capitalized on a few fortunate breaks to stun St. Louis in the series opener.

The Pirates added two more runs in the eighth to secure their first win of the season against the Cardinals at PNC Park. It was also the 11th time in their last 13 games that the Pirates recorded at least 10 hits.

“It was a really fun game to be a part of,” said spot starter Alex McRae, who pitched five solid innings in place of Joe Musgrove (right foot discomfort). “The way that we fought was awesome.”

Friday was Pittsburgh’s 10th win in their last 14 games and a welcome bounce-back on the heels of a series loss to the Marlins at home.

“We feel like we’re playing good baseball. We just had a couple hiccups there in that series,” Frazier said. “We’re getting better. Just trying to finish the season strong.”

The Pirates’ big inning, one run shy of their highest-scoring frame all season, began innocently enough. Pinch-hitting prospect Cole Tucker lined a single to right field off right-hander John Gant, who then struck out Pablo Reyes and walked Kevin Newman. Out went Gant and in came lefty Andrew Miller to strike out Bryan Reynolds.

That brought up Starling Marte with two on and two outs. Marte hit a routine ground ball to Paul DeJong, but the typically sure-handed shortstop couldn’t get it out of his glove to record the easy forceout at second base. Marte reached safely with an infield single, and the inning continued.

“Marte, I don’t know if he leads the league in infield hits, but he’s got a lot of them. That’s what he’s kind of known for,” Cardinals manager Mike Shildt said. “The ball comes in, and we just couldn’t get the force at second, and we kind of went from there."

Josh Bell came to the plate batting just .215 against left-handers this season, and he fouled off Miller’s first two pitches to immediately fall behind in the count. Bell hit a popup to shallow right field, but it was in the perfect location. The ball fell for a two-run single, giving Bell 114 RBIs on the year -- the most by a Pirates player since Brian Giles had 123 in 2000.

“It was one of those nights, you know. Some nights, you can’t get any of those; you feel like they get all of those,” Frazier said. “Tonight, we got a couple breaks. It’s always fun when that happens.”

Trailing by only one run, switch-hitting veteran Melky Cabrera pinch-hit for lefty-swinging Colin Moran and lined a game-tying single to left field. That was it for Miller, but not for the Pirates.

Osuna recorded the Pirates’ fourth straight two-out single, this one a 105.8 mph line drive to center off right-hander John Brebbia, according to Statcast. Frazier’s two-run triple off the wall -- just short of a home run -- ended the singles parade.

“That was a pretty good situation to be in. One at a time, guys put together good at-bats off two of their best relievers,” Frazier said. “It’s pretty impressive by everybody. Coming through, it just felt good.”

With two on and two outs in the eighth, Hurdle summoned closer Felipe Vazquez to record the final out. He promptly struck out Tommy Edman, who had homered twice, then received a little extra breathing room when Marte singled home Newman and Reynolds in the bottom of the inning.

“Love the finish. Love the battle the whole game,” Hurdle said. “Lot of fun to watch our guys battle.”