Comeback 'special': Pirates walk off vs. Cubs

PITTSBURGH – This is starting to feel a little familiar, isn’t it?

It was around this time a year ago that the Pirates began their surge through the month of July, an unexpected romp highlighted by an 11-game winning streak that turned a likely Trade Deadline seller into a surprising buyer.

Well, the 2019 Pirates aren’t ready to be counted out, either. They proved it once again by staging a remarkable ninth-inning comeback to beat closer Craig Kimbrel and the Cubs, 6-5, on Wednesday night at PNC Park.

• Box score

“It’s special, a special moment we’re living right now,” catcher Elias Díaz said. “We want to keep doing it, keep fighting to make the playoffs in October. That’s what we want.”

Since falling to 30-38 on June 13, the Pirates have reeled off 12 wins in their last 17 games. They’ve frequently done so in dramatic fashion. They overcame a six-run deficit to beat the Tigers on June 19, and they erased a pair of three-run deficits to beat the Padres with a walk-off walk on June 23. Wednesday’s comeback was equally unlikely, maybe even more so.

“That was nuts. Craziest ending to a game that I think I’ve ever seen,” said first baseman Josh Bell, who homered and hit an RBI double earlier in the night. “I feel like that just adds to the momentum.”

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After coughing up a pair of one-run leads, the Pirates trailed the Cubs by one heading into the ninth. Chicago called in Kimbrel, the experienced closer with 334 saves and 34 blown saves, to protect it against the bottom of the Pirates' lineup. No problem, right?

“We’re resilient. We’re not going to give up,” said starter Chris Archer, who allowed three runs in five innings. “Regardless of the pitcher who’s on the mound, regardless of who’s at the plate, we’re all in.”

Pittsburgh’s rally began with a one-out walk by Diaz, who stopped short of swinging at a high, full-count fastball to take his base.

“I just want to be aggressive and get on base, no matter how,” Diaz said. “I just have to look for a good pitch, and that one was up and in.”

Up came Jung Ho Kang, whose throwing error preceded Victor Caratini’s go-ahead home run off Francisco Liriano in the seventh. Kang lifted a fly ball to right field, and Willson Contreras -- a catcher playing the outfield -- chased after it. Contreras couldn’t corral the ball, putting runners on second and third base for Adam Frazier.

“It started off with Diaz with that great walk,” Corey Dickerson said. “Whenever you put that great at-bat together, especially when Frazier got on deck, I felt like we had a really good chance.”

Frazier smacked a ground ball to second base, and Diaz took off. Addison Russell decided to throw home, but Diaz deftly avoided Caratini’s late tag, safely slid across the plate and rolled across the dirt. Just like that, the game was tied.

“The ground ball was hit hard,” Diaz said. “He tried to get me out, but I got a good jump and I made a good slide and I scored the run.”

By that point, there was no doubt in the Pirates’ dugout. They were, again, going to find a way to win. Dickerson stepped to the plate, took two balls from Kimbrel then hit a line drive to left field. Kyle Schwarber made the catch, but Dickerson hit the ball deep enough to score Kang from third. It was Dickerson’s fourth walk-off hit -- and his first walk-off sacrifice fly.

“I love those situations, the crowd getting loud,” Dickerson said. “I think the competitive nature came out in me. I just wanted that opportunity.”

Then, immediately after the Pirates’ third win of the season when trailing after eight innings, came the celebration. Kang slid home then stood up, index fingers pointed to the sky, as Diaz bounced out of the dugout with both hands in the air. Frazier picked up Dickerson at first before the rest of the team joined them.

“I think what’s working out right now is that we continue to play hard,” veteran outfielder Melky Cabrera, who hit a two-run homer in the fourth, said through interpreter Mike Gonzalez. “We continue to celebrate one another. Things are falling into place right now.”

Bell has been the driving force offensively, but the team’s turnaround has been a group effort. Frazier sparked Monday’s offensive outburst from the leadoff spot. The rotation is close to full strength. The once-leaky bullpen did the heavy lifting in Tuesday’s victory. Three relievers who struggled mightily earlier this season -- Michael Feliz, Dovydas Neverauskas and Richard Rodriguez -- made key scoreless appearances on Wednesday.

“I just love watching them play, regardless of what happens. They move forward, and they do it as a group,” Pirates manager Clint Hurdle said. “There were a couple twists and turns to the game tonight. Each time one happened, ‘Let’s go.’ … Then put yourself in position in the ninth. Different guys chipping in. Really, really fun.”

Can they maintain this momentum? Last year’s club flew through July then faltered in August, ultimately falling out of the race by September. But as they sit three games behind the National League Central-leading Brewers and two games out of an NL Wild Card spot, these Pirates like their chances.

“We know that, in this division, a lot’s for the taking and we’re all in pretty much the same position,” Bell said. “A lot can happen in the next month. We’re right where we want to be, and hopefully we can keep playing some good baseball.”