Joyce, Frazier HRs help Bucs edge Phils

July 24th, 2016

PITTSBURGH -- Rookie couldn't have picked a better time to knock his first Major League home run that nearly reached the Allegheny River. His pinch-hit solo shot to the top of the right-field bleachers broke a tie in the bottom of the seventh inning, leading the Pirates to a 5-4 series win over the Phillies on Sunday at PNC Park.
"I figured [right-hander ] was coming back with a fastball after just missing with two off-speed pitches," Fraizer said. "I got my hands to it and got the barrel out in front."
The Pirates overcame a 4-2 Phillies lead in the sixth, courtesy of 's two-run shot to center field, tying it 4. The Bucs have now won four straight series at PNC Park, while the Phillies have gone 4-11 against the Pirates at PNC Park since 2012.
Frazier blasts first Major League home run

gave up four runs on eight hits in his six innings with a career-high seven strikeouts. He has gone three straight starts without registering a walk.

"He made some mistakes and he paid for them, but he kept us in the game and he really didn't fold or go away," Pirates manager Clint Hurdle said. "He stayed on the aggression throughout the outing."
Pittsburgh's bullpen worked a scoreless three innings to preserve the one-run lead and eventual win.
"We had opportunities the whole series. Especially today's game included, we need some big hits to score," Phillies manager Pete Mackanin said.
With runners on the corners in the seventh, whiffed with a 97-mph fastball to keep the score tied. Herrera, who went 7-for-13 in the series, tacked on two RBIs on a groundout in the third inning and a solo shot in the sixth.

MOMENTS THAT MATTERED
He was born a homerin' man: Joyce's home run -- a towering shot to center that traveled an estimated 434 feet -- gives him 10 homers in 144 at-bats this season, a 14.4 AB/HR ratio that would rank him third in the National League if he had enough at-bats to qualify.
Give me the good news first: Phillies third baseman homered to center field in the first inning, giving the Phillies a 1-0 lead.

He later broke his left index finger and is likely headed to the disabled list, so replaced him at third base, batting third. Franco sat out Saturday's game after being hit in the wrist by 's pitch on Friday. He hit a single in the eighth inning. More >

Quite an arm: Catcher made his first Major League start Sunday, and he picked up his first RBI on a groundout in the second inning. Hurdle complimented his work behind the plate, too.

"I thought Diaz caught a fantastic game," Hurdle said.
Diaz's most impressive moment was picking off at second base after receiving a called strike from Taillon to in the fourth. Though Ruiz was initially ruled safe, replay proved that tagged Ruiz before he got back to the bag and the call was overturned.

QUOTABLE
"It's the best bench [I've had] here going back over the six years with the quality of men that we can pull off it at any given time. ... It's given us a shot in the arm many, many times this season." -- Hurdle, noting that all five RBIs came from players who aren't typically in the starting lineup

"It's just a matter of finishing at-bats. You've gotta finish 0-2 counts." -- Phillies starter , on giving up the lead in the sixth inning
MORE REPLAY
In the third inning, the Phillies claimed had interfered while sliding into second base to break up a double play on 's grounder to third base. The Phillies challenged, and the call was overturned, with the Phillies getting the double play.

In the eighth inning, the Pirates challenged the call ruling safe at first base. The call on the field was confirmed: Joseph reached base safely, though Franco was out at second.

RAIN DELAY
In the bottom of the eighth inning, the game was delayed for one hour, 32 minutes, due to rain.
WHAT'S NEXT
Phillies: The Phillies will continue their road trip with a three-game series in Miami, beginning Monday at 7:10 p.m. ET at Marlins Park. Right-hander (7-7, 3.48 ERA) is coming off win against the Marlins, in which he held hitters to one earned run on five hits in eight innings.
Pirates: The Pirates play just 11 games in an 18-day span, including off-days bookending a two-game series against the Mariners at PNC Park on Tuesday and Wednesday. Tuesday's pitching matchup features Pittsburgh's (6-9, 4.96 ERA) and Seattle's (4-4, 3.23 ERA).
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