Pirates waste late-inning comeback in loss to Diamondbacks
National League Baseball
Pittsburgh Pirates' Ryan O'Hearn reacts at second base after hitting an RBI double off of Arizona Diamondbacks pitcher Ryan Thompson during the eighth inning of a baseball game in Pittsburgh, Tuesday, July 28, 2026. (AP Photo/Justin Berl)
Arizona Diamondbacks pitcher Gerardo Carrillo reacts after getting the final out of a baseball game against the Pittsburgh Pirates in Pittsburgh, Tuesday, July 28, 2026. (AP Photo/Justin Berl)
Pittsburgh Pirates' Ryan O'Hearn reacts at second base after hitting an RBI double off of Arizona Diamondbacks pitcher Ryan Thompson during the eighth inning of a baseball game in Pittsburgh, Tuesday, July 28, 2026. (AP Photo/Justin Berl)
Arizona Diamondbacks pitcher Gerardo Carrillo reacts after getting the final out of a baseball game against the Pittsburgh Pirates in Pittsburgh, Tuesday, July 28, 2026. (AP Photo/Justin Berl)
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PITTSBURGH -- Backup catcher James McCann singled in the winning run in the 12th inning with his fourth hit of the game and the Arizona Diamondbacks held on for an 8-7 win over the Pittsburgh Pirates on Tuesday night despite blowing a six-run lead.
They did that in the final two innings of regulation play.
Brandon Lowe and Bryan Reynolds hit back-to-back home runs for the Pirates to spark a three-run rally against closer Paul Sewald in the ninth to tie the game at 6-all and force extra innings. Lowe's two-run shot was his team-leading 22nd of the season.It was Sewald's third blown save in 27 opportunities.
The Pirates also had a three-run eighth to make it 6-3 on RBI singles by Ryan O'Hearn, Endy Rodriguez and Marcell Ozuna.
Both teams scored runs in the 10th on errors.
Geraldo Carillo (1-0) got his first major league win as the Diamondbacks won for the 11th time in 17 games. McCann's winning hit came off Wilbur Dotel (1-3).
The Diamondbacks' Brandon Pfaadt pitched seven scoreless innings, left with a 6-0 lead, and was in line to win his career-high sixth consecutive start since returning from Triple-A Reno on June 30. However, the bullpen blew the lead.
Pfaadt gave up six hits, struck out four and walked one. He was a 13-game winner last year but was sent to the minor leagues on June 4 after struggling.
Pirates rookie Bubba Chandler struggled to get through four innings. Four of the five runs Chandler allowed were earned, and he surrendered eight hits as he put the Pirates in a five-run hole.
The Pirates had 14 hits, including two each from Jake Mangum, Lowe, O'Hearn, Nick Gonzales and Ozuna.
Wildcard race
With the win, Arizona moves ahead of the Pirates -- record-wise -- by one game, 56-52 to 55-53 for the final spot in the wildcard race.
Up next
Diamondbacks LHP Eduardo Rodriguez (9-3, 2.64 ERA) starts the rubber game of the three-game series this afternoon at 12:05 against RHP Jared Jones (2-1, 3.72).