The Giants vs Pirates matchup turned into one of the wildest games of the MLB season, with Pittsburgh escaping PNC Park with a dramatic 13-12 victory over San Francisco on Tuesday night. The Pirates appeared to have the game under control late, only for the Giants to erase a five-run deficit before a throwing error decided the contest.
The game featured an unexpected offensive explosion from two teams that entered with struggling records. Despite starting pitchers Logan Webb and Paul Skenes, the night was anything but a pitchers’ duel.
Pirates Score 13 Runs in Chaotic Finish
The Pirates score reached 13 after Rafael Flores Jr. grounded into what should have been the final out. Instead, San Francisco’s Osleivis Basabe made an errant throw past first base, allowing Brandon Lowe to race home with the winning run.
Flores’ ground ball produced the decisive error with two outs, giving Pittsburgh its third consecutive victory. The Pirates also recorded their first three-game winning streak since before the All-Star break.
Brandon Lowe was one of Pittsburgh’s biggest offensive contributors, collecting four hits as the Pirates piled up 19 hits overall. His ability to reach base and eventually score the winning run proved crucial in an extraordinary finish.
Logan Webb Has Career-Worst Outing
The Logan Webb start quickly became a nightmare for the Giants. After surrendering two runs in the first inning, Webb appeared to settle down in the second before Pittsburgh exploded in the third.
The Pirates produced nine runs on nine hits in the inning, with Webb allowing four straight singles before issuing consecutive bases-loaded walks. He was removed with the bases loaded and no outs, and two more runners he was responsible for eventually scored.
Webb finished with just 2-plus innings, allowing nine earned runs on nine hits and two walks. It marked the most earned runs he had ever surrendered in a start and one of the shortest outings of his career. His ERA climbed from 3.72 to 4.21 following the performance.
Skenes Also Struggles Against San Francisco
Paul Skenes was unable to provide the dominant performance Pittsburgh expected, either. The Pirates ace gave up five runs in the second inning after San Francisco strung together several hits and capped the rally with a three-run home run from Rafael Devers.
Skenes was eventually removed with two outs in the fifth after reaching 95 pitches. He entered the game with a 3.79 ERA and left with that figure rising to 3.97.
The matchup between Skenes and Logan Webb had initially looked like a potential pitching showcase. Instead, both starters struggled badly, setting the stage for the late-game drama.
Giants Rally to Tie the Game
Pittsburgh led 12-7 heading into the eighth inning and appeared positioned to close out the victory. The Giants, however, refused to go quietly.
Pirates relievers Evan Sisk and Luke Weaver combined to surrender five runs in the eighth. Four consecutive walks helped ignite San Francisco’s rally before a double and a single brought the Giants all the way back to tie the game at 12-12.
That comeback gave San Francisco an opportunity to steal a game that had seemed out of reach. But the Giants could not complete the turnaround in the final innings.
Pittsburgh Keeps Its Wild-Card Hopes Alive
The victory was particularly important for Pittsburgh because the Pirates entered September trying to stay alive in the National League Wild Card race. The win moved them to 68-71, while San Francisco fell to 57-82.
MLB’s account noted that Pittsburgh entered the game five games behind the final NL Wild Card position, meaning there is still a significant gap to overcome. But the Pirates have begun September with momentum, winning three straight games and opening a six-game homestand on a positive note.
Giants vs Pirates Ends With One Final Mistake
The Giants vs Pirates game ultimately came down to execution. Pittsburgh’s offense produced nine runs in a historic third inning, San Francisco mounted a five-run eighth-inning comeback, and both teams watched their pitching staffs struggle.
Yet when the game reached its decisive moment, the Pirates capitalized on a defensive mistake. Brandon Lowe scored the winning run after Basabe’s throw sailed past first base, giving Pittsburgh a remarkable 13-12 walk-off victory.
For the Pirates, it was another sign that their postseason hopes remain alive. For the Giants, it was a painful reminder of how quickly a seemingly lost game can become winnable—and then disappear again.
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