Pirates hit 3 triples, shut out Phillies to snap 7-game losing streak

The Pittsburgh Pirates found the fastest way to score starts at third base.

Oneil Cruz, Tucupita Marcano and Bryan Reynolds all scored after hitting triples, and Roansy Contreras tossed five scoreless innings as the Pirates snapped a seven-game losing streak by beating the Philadelphia Phillies, 5-0, on Sunday afternoon at Citizens Bank Park.

The Pirates, who were 0-6 against the Phillies, avoided not only a series sweep but prevented the Phillies from completing a season sweep. The loss ended the Phillies’ six-game winning streak.

It was the first time the Pirates had three triples in a game since May 25, 2018, when Corey Dickerson, Austin Meadows and Jordy Mercer did so in an 8-1 win over the St. Louis Cardinals. Also, it was the first time the Pirates had three players triple and score in a game since Sept. 17, 2003, when Abraham Nunez, Jack Wilson and Jason Bay completed the feat.

“I think it was huge,” Marcano said through translator Mike Gonzalez on the AT&T SportsNet postgame show. “It was vital, especially because not only did we get to third but we were able to bring in those runs. … When you see guys on third, the goal is to bring them in. So for us to do that and help the team, that was huge.”

Cruz started the game by smoking a 110 mph liner 338 feet past a diving Matt Vierling in center for a leadoff triple, then scored on a single to right by Ke’Bryan Hayes to give the Pirates a 1-0 lead. The Pirates had been outscored 78-37 in the first inning this season and 7-0 by the Phillies in the first two games of the series.

Marcano tripled to the right-field corner with one out in the fourth, then scored on a perfectly executed sacrifice bunt down the first-base line by Greg Allen for a 2-0 Pirates lead.

“As soon as he put it down, as soon as (Alec) Bohm froze, we knew we were in a good spot because Alec has to make a decision there whether he’s going to get the ball and go to the plate or give up a hit,” Pirates manager Derek Shelton said. “That just helped propel us. We did a nice job of just executing.”

Reynolds took a cue from Marcano with a triple down the right-field line to almost the exact same spot in the corner to start the sixth, then scored on a single to left by Michael Chavis to increase the lead to 3-0.

“The two we hit down the line — and I thought our guys made two really good reads out of the box, thinking three,” Shelton said. “And the one that Cruz hit, I don’t know if it knuckled or gave a funny look, but once he gets going we know he’s going to get to third. I think it was a credit to all three of our guys, the fact that they went hard right out of the box.”

The Pirates proved they could score without triples, too.

Chavis advanced to third on Rodolfo Castro’s single to right, then scored for a 4-0 lead when Marcano hit a grounder off the glove of pitcher Noah Syndergaard that dribbled to second baseman Jean Segura. After Allen grounded into a forceout and was caught stealing second, Bligh Madris doubled off the right-field wall to score Castro for a 5-0 lead.

“We had to battle. We’ve been battling all season and, as of late, battling to score runs,” Madris said. “We found a way to bring home some runs and string together a couple clutch hits here and there. We battled a tough battle, and it just went our way.”

The Pirates scored all five runs against Phillies starter Syndergaard, who was 3-0 with a 3.60 ERA in four starts since being acquired from the Los Angeles Angels last month. Syndergaard allowed five runs on nine hits and one walk with five strikeouts in 5 2/3 innings.

Mixing his four-seam fastball with a slider that got a dozen whiffs, Contreras allowed three hits and two walks, recorded seven strikeouts on 89 pitches and got out of a pair of jams.

“Ro was on today,” Pirates catcher Jason Delay said. “Really had the slider working. We felt like there was some room for improvement, even with the fastball command. I’m really excited for what his future holds.”

After walking Bryson Stott and giving up a Vierling single with two outs in the second, Contreras escaped by getting Edmundo Sosa swinging at a slider for a strikeout.

Bryce Harper singled through the shift to start the fourth, advanced to second on J.T. Realmuto’s single to left and to third when Vierling drew a two-out walk to load the bases. Contreras got Sosa out to end the inning again, this time on a line drive to center.

“I’m aware that there’s runners on base, I’m aware that the bases are loaded, however, my focus is on the hitter,” Contreras said. “Just attack the hitter and not worry so much about the runs.”

The Pirates also got strong defensive play from Marcano, who showed great range at second base. Marcano made a double play to end the seventh, assisted on all three outs in the eighth inning –—including a spinning throw to get Nick Castellanos out — and made another spectacular stop to get Harper in the ninth.

Shelton credited team effort: The Pirates got hits from eight players and had five players score runs and five drive in runs. The bullpen also provided four scoreless innings as Manny Banuelos, Duane Underwood Jr. and Wil Crowe combined to allow one hit and one walk.

“That’s what we’re capable of as a team,” Madris said. “If we can put it together games like that in this last stretch, we’re going to end the season on a high note.”