Needed that: Phillies 4, Pirates 3! Phillies walk it off for first time this year, beat Pirates

Pittsburgh Pirates v Philadelphia Phillies

Final Score: Phillies 4, Pirates 3

After falling behind in the top of the first inning on Saturday, the Phillies scored a pair of runs in the bottom of the first to take the lead. Kyle Schwarber, who had a big day at the plate (3-for-3 with two walks), hit the 33rd leadoff home run of his career to tie the game.

Trea Turner followed that up with a double, later scoring on a Nick Castellanos single.

You’re not supposed to be able to hit the ball this far in the cold of April. 💣pic.twitter.com/sEI7riqK1e

— Phillies Nation (@PhilliesNation) April 13, 2024

It was a good start for the Phillies, who struggled for the most part on Friday when they scored just two runs on seven hits. But after recording two more hits in the second, and failing to bring a run home with runners on the corners with two outs, their bats went silent until the seventh inning. Between the third and sixth innings, they only got one hit — a single by Cristian Pache — and wasted the limited opportunities they had after working walks.

They woke up a bit to score a run in the seventh, though. After Schwarber and Bryce Harper worked walks against Pittsburgh reliever Aroldis Chapman, Alec Bohm delivered a game-tying RBI single. The Phillies then had runners on first and second with one out — a great run-scoring opportunity — but didn’t cash in. Castellanos struck out and Bryson Stott, pinch-hitting for Edmundo Sosa, flew out to center fielder Jack Suwinski to end the inning.

Meanwhile, the Pirates’ bats were a little better. But that was thanks to an iffy outing by Spencer Turnbull. The right-hander looked good in his first two starts of the year, allowing no runs over 11 innings with 13 strikeouts. Turnbull was rather ineffective on Saturday, though, surrendering three earned runs in four-plus innings. He struggled with his command, landing just 48 of his 88 pitches for strikes while walking four hitters.

Pittsburgh took the lead in the fifth inning thanks to Oneil Cruz’s impressive opposite-field, two-run home run.

Matt Strahm came on in relief of Turnbull and delivered a big-time outing. He finished two innings of work with five strikeouts and did not allow a batter to reach base. Gregory Soto, José Alvarado and Jeff Hoffman all worked scoreless innings themselves to keep the game tied after eight-and-a-half innings.

Schwarber started the bottom of the ninth with a single. He was then pinch-run for by Whit Merrifield. Turner followed that with a walk and Harper went down on strikes, bringing Bohm to the plate. Pittsburgh intentionally walked Bohm, likely because of his knack to come through with runners on base and a struggling Castellanos due up next.

Loading the bases was risky, but with one out, a ground ball could’ve easily sent the game to extras. The Pirates brought in right-hander Roansy Contreras to face Castellanos, who took a hack at the first pitch he saw. He drove the ball into deep center field, over Suwinski’s head, to end the ball game.

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