Pittsburgh Pirates vs Miami Marlins Match Player Stats On Sep 17, 2021

Cole Tucker -- who was denied an RBI in the first inning when a runner was thrown out at the plate -- lofted the go-ahead sacrifice fly in the sixth, leading the Pittsburgh Pirates to a 2-1 win over the host Miami Marlins on Friday night.

Pittsburgh closer Chris Stratton allowed a leadoff triple to Bryan De La Cruz in the ninth but escaped the jam to earn his sixth save of the year.

After the triple, Stratton struck out Jesus Sanchez and Lewis Brinson. Stratton intentionally walked Lewin Diaz and then struck out catcher Payton Henry, who was making his major league debut. Henry finished 1-for-4, including a 400-foot double off the center field wall.

Pittsburgh (55-92), hot of late, is one win away from clinching its fourth straight series. The Pirates have won seven of their past 10 games.

Miami (62-85) has alternated wins and losses over its past eight games but has won five of its past seven series.

Pittsburgh starter Wil Crowe (4-7) earned his first win since July 30, allowing three hits, one walk and one run in five innings. He struck out five.

The Pirates got scoreless relief from Anthony Banda, Nick Mears, Chad Kuhl and Stratton.

Elieser Hernandez (1-2) took the loss, allowing four hits, a career-high five walks and two runs (none earned). He fanned three.

Hernandez, after retiring the game's first two batters, walked Bryan Reynolds on four pitches and Colin Moran on five. Reynolds then scored on a Jacob Stallings smash up the middle that was ruled on error on second baseman Jazz Chisholm Jr. Tucker followed with a single, but Marlins center fielder De La Cruz threw Moran out at the plate.

Miami tied the score in the second. Sanchez drew a four-pitch walk, advanced to second on Diaz's one-out single and scored on Eddy Alvarez's two-out single.

Marlins left fielder Brinson stole a likely homer from Anthony Alford in the fourth inning. Brinson made a long run and was still on the move when he jumped up to make the grab.

The Pirates took a 2-1 lead in the sixth. Moran drew a leadoff walk, advanced to second on a Stallings base on balls and to third on a low passed ball charged to Henry. Moran then scored on Tucker's crucial sacrifice fly.

That set up the drama in the ninth, when Reynolds dove but couldn't catch De La Cruz's triple. With two outs and two strikes, Henry couldn't hold up on a check swing, and the game was over.

--Field Level Media