PITTSBURGH – A late rally and solid bullpen work were enough for the Pirates to remain perfect over the Giants this season, beating them Monday at PNC Park, 5-4, when Jack Suwinski beat a throw home in the ninth.
Johan Oviedo made his first start since Sept. 27, 2023, but he was limited to just one 43-pitch inning where he walked three and allowed a pair of runs.
The bullpen picked Oviedo up to keep it a ballgame, with a Jung Hoo Lee two-run triple in the fifth being the only blemish.
Suwinski gave the Pirates new life in the seventh with a two-run homer to make it 4-3. Joey Bart singled home Alexander Canario to tie the game with one out in the ninth, setting up Isiah Kiner-Falefa to play the hero. Kiner-Falefa hit a dribbler up the first-base line, but Suwinski beat Rafael Devers’ throw home to win it.
Giants starter Justin Verlander struck out four over five innings of one-run ball. Randy Rodríguez took the loss for the Giants, while Dauri Moreta -- another Pirate making his PNC Park return from Tommy John surgery -- got the win.