Osuna's HR in 10th lifts Pirates over D-backs

PHOENIX -- José Osuna hit a two-run homer off D-backs reliever Tom Wilhelmsen in the top of the 10th on Sunday to lead the Pirates to a 6-4 win and a split of the four-game series this weekend at Chase Field.
Osuna, who joined the Pirates after Starling Marte's suspension, entered the game as a defensive replacement at first base in the seventh inning. He came to the plate with two outs and a man on in the 10th and crushed a 96 mph fastball 451 feet to center field.
"Just a big swing of the bat for us. Really fun to watch him hit that ball out," Pirates manager Clint Hurdle said. "We like the battle in the box. We like the grit. We like the man. Obviously, he was good to have on our team today."
The Pirates knocked out D-backs starter Robbie Ray in the fourth inning when he was lifted for a pinch-hitter after throwing 88 pitches. He allowed four runs on six hits, including home runs by Andrew McCutchen and Josh Bell, and walked three and struck out two.

The D-backs left 15 men on base and lost A.J. Pollock (right groin) and David Peralta (right glute) to injury. They were so short-handed, in the 10th inning after Pollock singled and had to be removed because of the injury, he was replaced on the bases by Zack Greinke. With no one left on the bench, D-backs manager Torey Lovullo sent up Patrick Corbin to pinch-hit. Pollock and Peralta will be re-evaluated on Monday. More >
"It was a tough way to lose a ballgame," Lovullo said. "We battled all day long. I thought we had a number of moments built inside this game. We just couldn't close the deal in a couple of key situations. And that went all the way to the final out of the game."
Iván Nova allowed two homers to D-backs first baseman Paul Goldschmidt, including a fifth-inning shot that hit the video screen high above center field. The homer had an exit velocity of 112.4 mph, his hardest of the three-season Statcast™ era. 
"I said, 'Wow. Wow.' To be honest, you don't want to give up a homer, but once you see that monster homer. He hit it far. Like, wow," Nova said.
Nova got through six innings, throwing 104 pitches and exiting with a 4-3 lead.
"There's positives. There's areas we know we've got to work on and get a little bit better," Hurdle said. "The execution defensively and, for the most part, off the mound, was very gritty."
MOMENTS THAT MATTERED
Bucs lightning strikes twice: Ray struggled through the first two innings, allowing one run on a double-play grounder, but really came apart in the third. McCutchen and Bell homered, sandwiched around a Gregory Polanco single, giving Pittsburgh an early three-run lead.

No hits, one run: The D-backs tied the score at 4 in the eighth inning without the aid of a hit. Old friend Daniel Hudson came on and walked the bases loaded with two outs. Left-hander Wade LeBlanc replaced Hudson to face pinch-hitter Jeff Mathis, who also drew a full-count walk, forcing in the tying run. Goldschmidt then struck out looking to end the inning.
QUOTABLE
"It's really good. To help my team win is what I have to do. Try to help my team every day. … Most importantly, we win the game." -- Osuna, on the win over the D-backs
"We played 17 days in a row, went through a little rough stretch. To end on a little winning streak and go home into the off-day, it's a big win for us. It was fun to be out there at the back end and get things done."-- Pirates closer Tony Watson, on getting the win More >
SOUND SMART WITH YOUR FRIENDS
Goldschmidt's second homer went a projected 453 feet, his third longest since August 2015. Jake Lamb hit the longest homer of the Major League season at Chase Field against the Rockies on April 29. It went 481 feet to right and below the video board. It was the 11th multi-homer game of Goldy's career and second of the season. More >
"It was a pretty impressive shot," Lovullo said. "In this game, you have some 'wow' moments and for me that was definitely a 'wow' moment. He hit it off the Jumbotron and that's a long way. I keep saying that nothing he does surprises me. This just adds something to the list."
WHAT'S NEXT
Pirates: After an off-day on Monday, the Pirates will begin a three-game series against the Nationals on Tuesday night at PNC Park. Right-hander Chad Kuhl is scheduled to start the opener at 7:05 p.m. ET. This will be Kuhl's second career start against Washington. Last July, he held the Nats to one hit over six scoreless innings.
D-backs: The D-backs will open a three-game series on Monday at 6:40 p.m. MST at Chase Field against the Mets. Zack Godley will get his third start in the spot vacated by Shelby Miller, who is out for the season after Tommy John surgery. It's a battle of right-handed Zacks with Zack Wheeler scheduled to start for the Mets.
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