In a thrilling 12-inning opening day showdown in Miami, the Pittsburgh Pirates staged an epic comeback against the Miami Marlins, clinching a 6-5 victory at loanDepot park. Jared Triolo emerged as the hero, delivering a game-winning hit with a single that just cleared the infield, bringing Ke'Bryan Hayes home for the decisive run.
Reflecting on his performance, Triolo shared, "I battled at the plate early and throughout the game. It was good just to find some grass." The Pirates, initially trailing 5-2 after six innings, surged late in the game, sparked by a resilient offensive effort and a dominant display from their bullpen. Pirates relievers held the Marlins to just one hit, two walks, and no runs over the final 6 1/3 innings.
Pirates manager Derek Shelton praised his team's execution, especially against Marlins second baseman Luis Arraez, known for his prowess at the plate. Arraez, a two-time batting champion, went 0 for 6, a rare occurrence in his career. Shelton remarked, "What that says is that, as good of a hitter as he is, our guys did a really good job of executing pitches to him."
Bryan Reynolds was a standout performer for the Pirates, going 2 for 5 with a home run and two RBIs. Oneil Cruz and pinch hitter Edward Olivares also contributed with home runs of their own. On the Marlins side, Jake Burger stood out, going 3 for 4 with three RBIs, despite the team's eventual loss in front of a spirited crowd of 32,654, marking the Marlins' largest opening day attendance since 2016.
The game was marked by back-and-forth action, with both teams exchanging blows. Jesus Sanchez and Tim Anderson helped the Marlins take an early lead, but Reynolds' two-run homer in the third inning tied the score. The Marlins responded, but the Pirates fought back, with Olivares' solo homer and Andrew McCutchen's RBI ground out in the seventh inning narrowing the gap.
The game remained tied until the seventh, when Cruz blasted a game-tying homer off Sixto Sanchez. Extra innings ensued, with neither team scoring in the 10th or 11th. In the 12th, Triolo's clutch hit put the Pirates ahead, and a stellar performance from reliever Jose Hernandez secured the win and his first save of the season.
Looking ahead, the Pirates (1-0) will face the Marlins (0-1) again in the second game of the series at 7:10 p.m. EDT on Friday in Miami. Martin Perez is expected to start for the Pirates, while the Marlins are likely to start A.J. Puk. The stage is set for another thrilling encounter between these two competitive teams.
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