Game Updates
The Pittsburgh Pirates silenced Oracle Park with a masterful 3-1 victory over the San Francisco Giants on Tuesday night, riding clutch hitting and lockdown pitching to snap a potential Giants rally. Tommy Pham set the tone early with a perfect 3-for-4 night, peppering the outfield and keeping the pressure on Justin Verlander, who struck out seven but surrendered six hits in five gritty innings. But it was Liover Peguero's towering solo homer in the 8th—his first big hit of the game—that broke a 1-1 deadlock and sent the Pirates' dugout into a frenzy. Pittsburgh's bullpen then slammed the door, with Dennis Santana striking out two in a flawless 9th to preserve the lead.
For the Giants, Willy Adames' solo shot in the 4th briefly evened the score, but their offense otherwise sputtered against Pittsburgh's trio of arms. Bailey Falter gutted through five innings of one-run ball, while Braxton Ashcraft and Santana combined for four scoreless frames to stifle San Francisco's late-game threats. The loss drops the Giants further back in the wild-card chase, while the Pirates—sparked by Peguero's heroics and Pham's relentless bat—continue their push for respect in a crowded NL Central.