Pirates rebound with 5-run 7th to snap 5-game skid

PITTSBURGH -- For a few moments, the Pirates and Guardians’ collective fates were out of either of their hands. Rather, their destinies would be decided by a select group of people in New York. The powers that be inside of Major League Baseball’s Replay Operations Center would have to determine if Bryan Reynolds just hit into an inning-ending, bases-loaded double play, as the call was originally made, or if Reynolds actually had actually beaten out the throw to first.

Following several agonizing long minutes, crew chief Adrian Johnson made the announcement: the call was overturned, Reynolds was safe and a run scored. It was a decision that set the tone for a five-run seventh inning and, in time, a 7-5 win over the Guardians, a victory that snapped a five-game losing streak and provided the Pirates with some much-needed life.

“It was a much-needed win for us today,” said Ji Man Choi through team interpreter Daniel Park. “The last couple days have been tough for us. We really needed this win to get the momentum going for us again.”

With one out and the bases loaded and the Pirates trailing by two in the seventh inning, Reynolds hit a grounder to shortstop Amed Rosario, who flipped over to second baseman Andrés Giménez, who received the toss, took a step and fired on the run to Josh Bell for two. Rally over. Inning over. Opportunity wasted.

Then, the overturn. With Reynolds deemed safe, Pittsburgh had runners on first-and-third with two outs and the deficit cut to one run. The Pirates had new life, and they weren’t going to waste it.

Carlos Santana walked. Choi drove in two with a single, emphatically drawing his imaginary sword as he stood on first base. Henry Davis walked. Jared Triolo, who had already extended his hitting streak to 12 games earlier in the day, scored two more with a single of his own. A few minutes earlier, the Pirates were on the verge of walking away with nothing. Following the overturned call, they had themselves a five-spot.

“I think that's kind of what we've been talking about is having that big inning where we can bust it open,” Triolo said. “We had guys all the way through the line putting good swings on balls and having good at bats. So, that's what it takes."

Said Choi of the sword pull, “The dugout needed a little more energy, so with the sword pull, it was definitely a little more than what I usually do.”

Before Reynolds hustled and before Choi and Triolo drove in two, Endy Rodríguez entered off the bench and recorded the first hit of his Major League career, a single into shallow left field. Rodríguez scored the first run of his career in that decisive frame as well, waltzing home from third base on Choi’s single to right field.

“I’m really excited because I’ve spent my whole life working to get my first hit,” Rodríguez said. “I don’t know how to explain the emotion, man, but it feels really good.”

Rodríguez experienced a rude awakening to the Majors in his first two games, striking out in six of his first seven plate appearances. On Monday, the day that he made his debut, All-Star closer Emmanuel Clase struck out Rodríguez with a biting slider to conclude an 11-o loss. Rodríguez allowed himself to savor the moment, emphatically pumping his first and extending his arm towards the skies.

"They trust me,” Rodríguez said of being called upon off the bench. “That's good because that makes me feel good. If they trust me and I trust myself, we're going to have something good."

As he stood on first base, Rodríguez reflected on “everything,” from the first time he played baseball in his life to his first year of pro ball. Rodríguez will keep his first hit with him for the entirety of the year, but give the ball to his mom upon returning home.