A heavy downpour forced a delay of more than an hour before the second game of the Pirates‑Guardians series got underway, setting the stage for a tense contest that would swing back and forth.
Early Sparks
Brandon Lowe opened the scoring with a sacrifice fly that put the Pirates ahead early, giving the crowd a glimpse of a potential upset.
The momentum shifted when Petey Halpin lost the ball in the bright sun, allowing Nick Gonzales to cross the plate and trim the deficit.
Jake Mangum followed with an infield single that sparked another run, nudging the Pirates further ahead.
Guardians' Rally
Cleveland answered with a timely RBI single from Chase DeLauter, igniting a comeback that would gather steam.
The rally culminated in a walk‑off two‑run homer by Travis Bazzana, sealing a 5‑3 victory for the Guardians as the crowd erupted.
Curtis' Debut
Amid the drama, rookie reliever Khristian Curtis made a strong impression, tossing five scoreless innings and striking out four batters on his first appearance.
The Pirates have now blown 18 of their 39 save opportunities this season, a statistic that underscores the volatility of their late‑game performances.
The series will wrap up on Sunday, with the final game looming as both teams look to fine‑tune their strategies before the stretch run.