Nick Gonzales hits game-winning single in 9th, Pirates come from 3 down for 8-7 win over Phillies

PITTSBURGH (AP) — Nick Gonzales hit the game-winning RBI single in the ninth inning and the Pittsburgh Pirates rallied from a three-run deficit to beat the Philadelphia Phillies 8-7 on Friday night.

With the Pirates down 7-6, Connor Joe led off the ninth with a single before José Alvarado (1-4) walked Andrew McCutchen. Michael A. Taylor, running for Joe, and McCutchen executed a double steal. O’Neil Cruz drove in the tying run on a one-out fielder’s choice.

Gonzales then hit a cutter through the left side of the infield to win the game.

Carmen Mlodzinski (2-3) allowed two hits in the ninth inning before retiring three in a row.

Weston Wilson, who had a career-best three hits, put the Phillies ahead 4-3 in the third inning with a home run to left field, his first of the season and second in the majors. He capped a three-run first inning with the first of two singles, hitting off the chest of third baseman Ke’Bryan Hayes after a two-run double by Nick Castellanos.

Cruz drove in the first of Pittsburgh’s three runs off Aaron Nola in the first, doubled with an exit velocity of 120.5 mph to center. He led off the third with another double before scoring on a sacrifice fly to tie it at 4-all.

Nola allowed four runs and six hits with four strikeouts in five innings.

Trea Turner gave the Phillies a third lead with a two-run homer in the fourth inning. Edmundo Sosa scored on Kyle Schwarber’s sacrifice fly to make it 7-4 in the fifth.

Perez lasted 3 2/3 innings, allowing six runs on seven hits and two walks.

Cruz hit an RBI infield single before Rowdy Tellez’s third sacrifice fly of the night, cutting the lead to 7-6 in the seventh inning.

TRAINER’S ROOM

Phillies: LHP Ranger Suárez threw Wednesday, Thursday and Friday, went to 120 feet and had a flat-ground session before the game. He missed the All-Star Game with lower back spasms. … RHP Zack Wheeler (tight back) also threw to 120 feet Friday but did not have a flat-ground session.

Pirates: LHP Bailey Falter threw a live bullpen on Thursday. He was placed on the 15-day injured list on July 7 with left triceps tendonitis.

NEXT ONE

RHP Luis Ortiz (4-2, 2.84 ERA) will take the mound for the Pirates on Saturday, facing Phillies LHP Cristopher Sánchez (7-4, 2.96).

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AP MLB: https://apnews.com/hub/mlb

Wes Crosby, Associated Press