Jack Suwinski’s two-run homer in the ninth inning Saturday gave the Pittsburgh Pirates a 2-1 win over the visiting Arizona Diamondbacks.
Pittsburgh trailed 1-0 going into the ninth against Mark Melancon (1-6). Bryan Reynolds led off with a single to right, and Suwinski followed with his blast to right, his sixth homer of the season.
The Pirates have won four of five.
It was a pitching duel most of the game.
Pittsburgh starter Roansy Contreras tossed a career-high 5 2/3 innings, giving up one unearned run and four hits, with eight strikeouts and two walks.
Chris Stratton (3-2) pitched the ninth.
Arizona starter Zach Davies pitched 7 2/3 scoreless innings, giving up three hits and two walks, with six strikeouts.
The Diamondbacks, who had won three of four, missed a chance to get to .500.
Both starters set the tone early.
For Arizona, Ketel Marte hit a two-out double to the corner in right — extending his career-best hitting streak to 16 games — but Contreras otherwise struck out the side.
In the bottom of the first, the Pirates went down in order against Davies.
Michael Chavis got Pittsburgh’s first hit, a leadoff infield single in the second. He was erased by a double play. Cal Mitchell doubled to the corner in right but was stranded.
In the sixth, Marte hit a one-out double to right for the Diamondbacks and went to third as Christian Walker reached on shortstop Rodolfo Castro’s throwing error. Contreras struck out David Peralta but walked Jordan Luplow. The fourth ball to Luplow was a wild pitch, allowing Marte to score for a 1-0 Arizona lead.
Duane Underwood Jr. relieved Contreras and got Alek Thomas to ground out.
Davies extended his stretch of batters retired to 18 straight before Tucupita Marcano walked with two outs in the eighth. Pinch-hitter Daniel Vogelbach followed with a single to left, moving Marcano to second. Diego Castillo pinch-ran for Vogelbach. Davies walked Chavis to load the bases.
That ended Davies’ game. Ian Kennedy relieved and struck out Ke’Bryan Hayes.
–Field Level Media