Pirates end skid with dramatic 9th-inning rally

Santana delivers go-ahead single in 3-run frame: 'It was emotional'

June 24th, 2023

MIAMI -- What a difference a night makes.

The Pirates finally ended their long losing streak Friday, rallying for three runs in the top of the ninth to beat the Marlins, 3-1, at loanDepot park.

How did the Pirates celebrate the end of this 10-game skid, as they got their first win since June 10 against the Mets?

By blasting the likes of the Bee Gees, Madonna and Stevie Wonder, the jubilant Bucs turned the visitors’ clubhouse into a nightclub of sorts with dimmed lighting and a laser show projected onto the low-slung ceiling.

A nightclub from 1985, sure, but the Pirates certainly appeared to be enjoying themselves.

“Winning in the The Show is really fun, and it is really hard to do,” catcher Austin Hedges said. “It is hard to win a single game in the big leagues, and any one that you get is meant to be celebrated. It has been a minute since we last won one, so it felt good to get back to winning. We have a good vibe in here. After a win, you could play any music in here and it’ll sound great.”

The Pirates had lost their 10th consecutive game here nearly 24 hours earlier in a crushing way, giving up a 4-1 lead in the eighth as Miami rallied with five in the bottom of the inning.

On Friday, however, Pittsburgh came into the ninth trailing, 1-0, before running Miami closer A.J. Puk out of the game.

The Pirates gave up a run to Miami in the first inning, but starter Luis L. Ortiz was superb after that, going eight innings, allowing just the one run and striking out five. Ortiz also got the Marlins to hit into three double plays -- two of which ended innings, including the first, when Miami had bases loaded with one out.

“That was outstanding,” manager Derek Shelton said. “[From the first], he was in control. He put the ball on the ground, executed all of his pitches. There was not a lot of hard contact.’’

Ortiz’s start gave the Pirates a chance going into the final frame. Pinch-hitter Josh Palacios led off with a single, then moved to second on a one-out infield single from Andrew McCutchen. Palacios and McCutchen then pulled off a double steal, setting up Palacios to score the tying run from third on a groundout to short from Connor Joe.

Carlos Santana laced a single into center with two outs, and for the first time all night, the Pirates had a lead.

“It is a long season, and there are ups and downs, but tonight, we played good and Ortiz was great,” Santana said. “We came back and won the game. We kept the focus, played hard every day and every game. … It was emotional. We had lost 10 games straight. I got the hit, and you could see everyone get happy. It’s a good start.’’

Said Shelton, “[Santana] didn’t try to do too much, knew to stay in the middle of the field and drove it through. That’s why he has been such a good player for so long.”

Down 2-1, Miami pulled Puk and put in Dylan Floro, who gave up a single to rookie Henry Davis, who went 2-for-3 with a walk. Pinch-hitter Tucupita Marcano then singled in Santana for a two-run lead.

In the bottom of the frame, Miami did not put up much of a fight. Closer David Bednar got his 15th save of the season by getting Jon Berti to pop up before striking out the next two he faced.

Time to party in Miami.

“The biggest thing I give them credit for is, that was a heck of a game,” Shelton said. “Good pitching on both sides. When you’re in the midst of a losing streak and you’re down going into the ninth against a closer, it is easy to give away at-bats. And we did not do that. … We were able to manufacture the way we have done, were able to run and do some things.

“I’m really proud of them. They kept playing and that’s a testament to them.”