Instant analysis: Pirates score nine unanswered runs, erasing six run deficit in comeback win over Diamondbacks

Noah Hiles, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette on May 28, 2025

Published in Baseball

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PHOENIX — Trailing by six runs more than halfway through the contest, few would’ve expected much from Don Kelly’s club. But in a year where most of his teams’ games ended in a predictable fashion, Tuesday evening was an unexpected outlier.

The Pirates scored nine unanswered runs, seven coming in the top of the eighth inning, paving the way for a 9-6 victory over the Diamondbacks at Chase Field. The win marks just the sixth time in the past 20 seasons where the Pirates came out on top after trailing by more than four runs at the start of the eighth inning.

Before we detail the comeback, first, let’s explain how Arizona jumped ahead.

The Diamondbacks opened the scoring with a leadoff homer from Corbin Carroll. After going quiet for the next two frames, Arizona’s lineup erupted in the bottom of the fourth, plating five runs, four of which were charged to starter Mike Burrows and the fifth credited to left-handed reliever Joey Wentz.

Gabriel Moreno kicked the rally off with a one-out triple. Alek Thomas brought him home the next at-bat with a single. Then Jordan Lawler walked and Carroll reached on an error, ending Burrows’ day. And once Wentz arrived, things went from bad to worse. Geraldo Perdomo, Lourdes Gurriel Jr. and Josh Naylor each tallied RBI singles, extending their club’s lead to 6-0.

The Pirates comeback started in the sixth inning. Henry Davis, who entered the game as a defensive replacement in the bottom of the fifth inning for Joey Bart, put Pittsburgh on the board with a two-run homer off Burnes. The long ball traveled 432 feet to left field at an exit velocity of 109.6 mph.

Burnes pushed forward after the long ball, finishing the sixth without surrendering further damage and tossing a scoreless seventh inning after. He ended his outing having allowed the two runs on six hits and a pair of walks while striking out six. But once he exited, the game quickly unraveled for Arizona.

The Pirates’ seven-run outburst started with a leadoff double from Davis, who came home to score on an infield hit by Tommy Pham, making the score 6-3. Two at-bats later, Isiah Kiner-Falefa smacked a double down the left field line with the bases loaded, scoring three runs to tie the game at six.

Each of those four runs were allowed by Kevin Ginkel, a struggling right-hander who not long ago played a notable part in the Diamondbacks 2023 National League pennant. Ginkel exited with one out and the go-ahead run on second base. He was replaced by former Pirate Jalen Beeks, who allowed his old club to take the lead for good.

Beeks started his outing allowing Oneil Cruz to reach base on a fielding error by Perdomo. The next at-bat, Bryan Reynolds connected on a 3-1 fastball, sending it 405 feet to left field to put Pittsburgh ahead 9-6. Diamondbacks fans watched in shock as Pirates relievers Dennis Santana and David Bednar slammed the door on an improbable victory.

Wentz was the game’s winning pitcher improving to 2-1 on the year, while Ginkel suffered the loss, dropping to 0-2. Bednar earned the save, his sixth of the year.

It was over when …

Reynolds left the yard. As the Pirates right fielder rounded the bases, the fans at Chase Field were left in shock.

On the mound

While he was unable to strand the runners he inherited in the fourth inning, Wentz provided the Pirates a valuable service by logging 3 ⅔ innings on the mound. His effort, similar to Braxton Ashcraft’s Monday evening, kept a taxed Pirates bullpen rested for the road ahead.

Little did they know at the time of his exit, it would also allow Pittsburgh to remain close enough to battle back and ultimately steal a win from the Diamondbacks. Wentz allowed just one run, which was earned, on three hits. He struck out four and walked none.

At the plate

In a year where little has gone right for Reynolds, he could do no wrong Tuesday. Reynolds finished the contest 4-for-4 with a walk, a double, and three RBI’s, all coming on his go-ahead homer in the eighth inning. Behind Reynolds was Davis, who homered, doubled and scored two of Pittsburgh’s first three runs. Pham and Alexander Canario both had multi-hit efforts as well, tallying two hits each.

Most valuable player

Reynolds, who as listed above, had one of the best games of his career.

Up next

The Pirates and Diamondbacks will conclude their three-game set at 3:40 p.m. on Wednesday. Paul Skenes (3-5, 2.36) will be on the hill for the Pirates, facing off against Zac Gallen (3-6, 5.25). The game will be televised on SportsNet Pittsburgh and broadcast on KDKA Radio 100.1 FM/1020 AM.