PITTSBURGH -- Out, but not down. That’s the mantra the Pirates have taken on in the final two weeks of the season. It clearly carried into the weekend series with Kansas City after being eliminated from playoff contention Friday night by San Diego's win.
The Pirates defeated the Royals, 4-3, on Sunday for the season sweep and fourth-straight win. Rafael Flores Jr. hammered a two-run homer in the bottom of the eighth to lead Pittsburgh to the win. With six games to play, the Bucs are 79-77.
Kansas City took the lead in the first off opener Lake Bachar, who started the game after throwing 17 pitches on Saturday. From there, the Pirates bullpen game held down the Royals offense.
Oneil Cruz became just the third player in Pirates history to have 20 home runs and 20 stolen bases in three straight years, joining Andrew McCutchen and Barry Bonds. His solo shot off Michael Wacha in the fourth brought his home run total to 20, despite missing over two months with injury. The homer also tied the game.
Pittsburgh took the lead in the sixth with an RBI single by Spencer Horwitz off Wacha’s 113th and final pitch, though Carmen Mlodzinski gave it right back by allowing a two-run blast by Vinnie Pasquantino, making a rare pinch-hitting appearance.
While the Pirates looked to be on their way to a Sunday loss in the dreary weather, Flores came up clutch for his 10th homer of the year, giving Pittsburgh the lead and ultimately, the win.