Pittsburgh Pirates vs San Francisco Giants Match Player Stats On Jul 26, 2017

The Sports Xchange
Jul 26, 2017

SAN FRANCISCO -- Pittsburgh Pirates left fielder Starling Marte misplayed Brandon Belt's fly ball with two outs in the bottom of the seventh inning, allowing Miguel Gomez to score the go-ahead run and send the San Francisco Giants to a 2-1 victory Wednesday afternoon.

Right-hander Jeff Samardzija, whose name has been mentioned in trade rumors, pitched seven strong innings for his second win over the Pirates this month.

The Giants took two of three from the National League Central contender, who arrived in San Francisco having won six of its last eight games.

Pinch-hitting for Samardzija in a 1-1 game, Gomez led off the seventh inning with a double against Pirates reliever Tony Watson (5-3).

After Denard Span bunted Gomez to third and Joe Panik grounded out, Belt went the opposite way with a deep fly to left field.

Marte, playing deep, had trouble tracking the ball. He did a 360 as he drifted back, and then had the ball fall at his feet, allowing Gomez to score the eventual winning run.

The hit was called a double.

Hunter Strickland got Andrew McCutchen to line into a double play to escape the eighth inning unscathed. Giants closer Sam Dyson pitched a 1-2-3 ninth for his sixth save.

Samardzija (5-11), who began the day tied for the second-most losses in the majors, both pitched and fielded brilliantly.

After allowing the Pirates' only run on an Adam Frazier double in the second inning, Samardzija intentionally walked Jordy Mercer to load the bases with one out.

Pirates starting pitcher Trevor Williams then hit a chopper between the mound and third base, a ball the 6-foot-5 Samardzija jumped to corral with his hand. His off-balance throw to the plate barely beat Francisco Cervelli for the second out.

Samardzija then got Marte to pop up to end the inning.

Later, pitching in a 1-1 tie in the seventh and Frazier on second, Samardzija snared a hard one-hopper by pinch-hitter David Freese that appeared headed to center field. The out at first base ended the inning.

Samardzija allowed one run and four hits in his seven innings. He walked two and struck out eight.

Williams matched his counterpart pitch-for-pitch, going six innings and giving up only one run and five hits. He walked three and struck out two.

The Giants' only run off Williams came in the first inning on a bases-loaded fielder's choice by Brandon Crawford, scoring Panik, who had doubled.

Gorkys Hernandez had two hits for the Giants, who had lost seven in a row at home to the Pirates before winning the last two of the series.

Buster Posey reached base four straight times, three times on walks, two intentional.

Frazier and Josh Harrison had two hits apiece for the Pirates, who continue a nine-game trip Friday in San Diego.

The Giants out-hit the Pirates 7-5.

NOTES: Before the game, the Giants promoted OF Carlos Moncrief from Triple-A Sacramento to take the roster spot created when 3B Eduardo Nunez was traded Tuesday night to the Boston Red Sox. ... Giants general manager Bobby Evans announced before the game that RHP Shaun Anderson, acquired in the Nunez trade, would begin his Giants career at Class A San Jose. ... Left-handed-hitting 3B Conor Gillaspie started in Nunez's place Wednesday, but Giants manager Bruce Bochy noted he would be looking for a righty option when his club faces three left-handed starters against the Los Angeles Dodgers later this week. No, he said, recently signed 3B Pablo Sandoval, a switch hitter currently playing at Triple-A Sacramento, was not an option. ... Giants RHP Johnny Cueto (blisters) threw a 45-pitch bullpen session before the game and could return to the starting rotation as early as Monday at Oakland. ... Pirates manager Clint Hurdle disclosed before the game that his club, with RF Gregory Polanco (strained hamstring) on the disabled list, remains interested in adding a fourth outfielder before the trade deadline.