On Facebook
On Flipboard
On Twitter
Brett Wisely smacked a go-ahead RBI single in the top of the eighth to cap a five-run inning, lifting the San Francisco Giants to a wild 7-6 victory over the host Pittsburgh Pirates on Thursday afternoon.
Pittsburgh was in the driver's seat in the rubber match of the three-game series when former Giant Joey Bart cracked a grand slam in the fourth inning.
Heliot Ramos went deep in the seventh inning as San Francisco trimmed its deficit to 5-2. Pittsburgh wasted little time getting that run back, as Bryan Reynolds ripped a solo shot of his own in the home half of the frame.
But then everything fell apart for the Pirates.
LaMonte Wade Jr. and Thairo Estrada opened the eighth with singles against Pittsburgh reliever Hunter Stratton (1-1). Matt Chapman followed with a three-run homer, cutting the Giants' deficit to 6-5.
Jorge Soler then doubled and scored on Wilmer Flores' single.
Marco Luciano pinch-ran for Flores, and Stratton got Ramos to fly out before handing the ball off to Aroldis Chapman. Luciano moved to second on a wild pitch from Chapman, and he took third on a passed ball from Bart.
Chapman fanned Patrick Bailey but couldn't retire Wisely, whose base hit to center plated Luciano.
Reliever Luke Jackson (2-1) came away with the win thanks to the outburst.
Ji Hwan Bae reached on an error to start the bottom of the ninth, but he was later caught stealing, and Tyler Rogers worked around a Reynolds single for his first save of the year.
San Francisco's rally spoiled a strong start from Pirates right-hander Paul Skenes, who allowed one run on six hits in six innings. Skenes walked one and struck out three.
Erik Miller served as an opener for the Giants, giving up one run and two hits in 1 2/3 innings. He recorded three strikeouts and didn't issue a walk.
Andrew McCutchen led off the bottom of the first with a solo home run. San Francisco later tied things at 1-1 in the fourth when Estrada scored on Soler's fielder's choice grounder.
Reynolds finished with three hits for Pittsburgh. Wade, Chapman, Ramos and Wisely each had two for the Giants.
More must-reads:
- Three under-the-radar trade chips for Red Sox
- Hal Steinbrenner’s comments on Yankees’ profits point to a larger issue
- The 'Five game-winning-drives in a season' quiz
Breaking News
Trending News
TODAY'S BEST
Blue Jays: To extend or not to extend Shane Bieber
Early in the off-season, Shane Bieber shocked the baseball world when he opted into his player option for the 2026 season. This year, he’ll earn $16 million before entering free agency after the season ends. Bieber opting in made the Toronto Blue Jays’ off-season slightly easier, because instead of needing two starters, they only needed one. Wednesday’s signing of Dylan Cease solidified their rotation, at least for now. By signing Cease, the Blue Jays have at least two starters locked in for their 2027 rotation. Cease signed a seven-year deal, and Trey Yesavage will have five additional seasons of team control. José Berríos could opt out of his contract, but that doesn’t seem likely. Bieber and Kevin Gausman, who the Blue Jays should also consider extending, are two starters who’ll hit the market barring any re-signings. There’s a strong case to extend Bieber, especially if the Blue Jays believe he can get back to his pre-injury form. In the pandemic-shortened 2020 season, Bieber had a 1.63 ERA and 2.07 FIP in 77.1 innings pitched, winning the American League Cy Young. The following two seasons, Bieber produced a 2.97 ERA and 2.92 FIP in 296.2 innings pitched, with a 27.8 K% and 5.8 BB%. Unfortunately, he pitched just 128 innings in 2023 with less-than-ideal results, and then required Tommy John surgery after just two starts in 2024. Those starts were his last with the Cleveland Guardians, as they traded the starter to the Blue Jays before the 2025 trade deadline for pitching prospect Khal Stephen. Upon returning from Tommy John surgery, Bieber authored a 3.57 ERA and 4.47 FIP in 40.1 innings pitched, with a 23.3 K% and 4.4 BB% in 40.1 innings pitched. The 30-year-old’s postseason was a mixed bag, producing several strong starts but getting roughed around in a few and giving up the game-winning home run in Game 7 of the World Series. As a whole, Bieber finished the playoffs with a 3.86 ERA and 4.26 FIP in 18.2 innings pitched, with a 21.7 K% and 7.2 BB%. There’s risk involved for both parties when it comes to extensions. Bieber has missed significant time in 2021, 2023, 2024, and 2025 due to injuries. There’s no telling how much time he’ll miss if the Jays extend him, but it’s not a good sign. Moreover, who knows if Bieber will return to the form he showed before the 2023 season? On Bieber’s end, if he has a good 2026 season, he stands to lose money if he signs an extension early. Granted, that goes both ways because he stands to lose money if he has a rough season, if he doesn’t sign an extension. All that being said, the Jays and Bieber will probably let the 2026 season play out and go from there. It’ll be a big season in determining if Bieber returns to the front-end-of-the-rotation starter he was in the past, or a middle-of-the-rotation starter. Surely, they’ll have interest in reuniting with him at the conclusion of the 2026 season.
After missing out on Lane Kiffin, Florida has new top target in coaching search
The Florida Gators won't be hiring Lane Kiffin as their next head coach, but there's a new top candidate in Gainesville. According to ESPN's Pete Thamel, Tulane head coach Jon Sumrall is now the leading candidate for the head coaching position. Sumrall has also reportedly withdrawn his name from consideration for the HC role at Auburn, leaving his options open between remaining at Tulane and moving to Florida. The Gators stand at 3-8 before Saturday's rivalry game against Florida State and have fired former head coach Billy Napier after a 3-4 start to his fourth season in the Swamp. Thamel reported on Friday that Florida had stopped considering Ole Miss head coach Lane Kiffin as a candidate, amid Kiffin's upcoming decision to either stay at Ole Miss or accept the head coaching job at LSU. Why Florida would be interested in Jon Sumrall According to Thamel, Sumrall is expected to decide by Sunday whether he will stay in New Orleans or move southeast to Gainesville. Sumrall, 43, is in his second year at Tulane, having taken over after Willie Fritz was named head coach at the University of Houston. Sumrall maintained the momentum of Tulane's football program established by Fritz, leading the Green Wave to the American Athletic Conference championship game a year ago. This season, No. 24 Tulane is 9-2 heading into Saturday's regular season finale against Charlotte. A win on Saturday night would secure a home game for the Green Wave in the AAC championship against North Texas. If Sumrall and Tulane win the AAC title, a College Football Playoff spot could be possible. With Sumrall's impressive record as a head coach — 41-11 between his tenures at Troy and Tulane — it's easy to see why the powers that be in Gainesville have identified him as the top target in Florida's coaching search now that Kiffin is out of the running.
'I’m Doing It': Scribe on Maple Leafs Trading Future Star in Quinn Hughes Deal
In another world, where the Toronto Maple Leafs have 30 points and are playoff contenders, looking to capitalize on a window to win, does the organization take a run at a generational defenseman that could put them over the top? One host and analyst thinks so, arguing that he would trade just about anything, including Matthew Knies, to acquire Quinn Hughes. Talk about whether the Vancouver Canucks will eventually trade Hughes is everywhere these days. The Canucks have told 31 other teams they are open to moving veterans and are making pending UFAs available via trade. To this point, that doesn’t include Hughes. However, he remains the big name, and the talking point around him is that he looks unhappy. Despite saying he’s committed to the team, it appears he’s moving on at some point. Perhaps the Canucks should get the most they can, while he can fetch a massive return. Would The Maple Leafs Be Interested? Who’s kidding whom? If Hughes becomes available, the Leafs will make a call to find out the asking price. And Bryan Hayes noted recently that if that price is Matthew Knies, he’s doing it. Should Toronto get two possible playoff runs out of Hughes — even if he eventually makes his way to New Jersey as a free agent to play with his brothers — Hughes is such a difference-maker, the Maple Leafs have to consider the trade. Hayes even said he’s throwing in picks and whatever else is required to acquire the second-best defensman in the world. Hayes said: “Let’s say the Leafs are really rocking right now, and it’s going to cost you Matthew Knies, I’m doing it, that’s what I’m telling you. I’m doing that, plus the picks and the prospects, like, that’s how good Quinn Hughes is.” Why Quinn Hughes Would Be A Risk For the Maple Leafs Hayes is suggesting the Leafs move on from arguably their best young forward. And, he’s suggesting they do so, even if they know that Hughes is ultimately not re-signing in Toronto. That makes any theorized deal all about how good Toronto thinks they can be with Hughes and without Knies over the next two seasons. It might not look like it so far this season, but the Maple Leafs’ window to win is now with Auston Matthews and William Nylander in their prime. In fact, that window is closing fast and if the team doesn’t push this season and next, they might be looking at starting over. How much of an impact can Hughes make with this roster? That’s the real question. If you were to describe the ideal fit, Hughes is it. Whether moving on from Knies to get what you need is the right play would be heavily debated. Getting Hughes would be huge. Losing Knies means immediately looking for another player to do what he does and at the same or a lower price. That’s no easy task, given how much the salary cap is rising and with what good forwards are commanding. Winning is the priority, but at what cost? Hughes is a long-term rental, probably nothing more. Hayes is behind the idea that you do what you have to, but is he right? There’s no indication a Hughes trade is close. There’s no sign that the Maple Leafs have eyes on him. But, if the opportunity fell into their lap, does GM Brad Treliving do whatever it takes to make that possibilty a reality?
Nick Sirianni sends message after Eagles fans called for Kevin Patullo's firing
Nick Sirianni is standing by his coaching staff amid calls for the Philadelphia Eagles to make a serious change to their offense. Eagles fans were unhappy with the team’s offensive play-calling during their 24-15 loss to the Chicago Bears. Philadelphia made several questionable calls throughout the contest, including a decision to let the clock run down to the two-minute warning in the first half, which drew loud boos inside Lincoln Financial Field in Philadelphia, Pa. With the Eagles putting up just nine points midway through the fourth quarter, fans started chanting for offensive coordinator Kevin Patullo to be fired. “Fire Kevin! Fire Kevin!” fans were heard chanting. Fans did not get their wish, at least for the time being. When asked about a potential change at play-caller, the Eagles head coach backed Patullo. “This is the greatest team sport there is, and it is never about one person,” Sirianni said during his postgame news conference. “I have confidence in the entire group. I know it will keep coming back to Kevin. If I thought it was one thing, then you make those changes. Obviously, it’s a lot of different things. I don’t think it is Kevin.” The Eagles offense has looked anemic through 12 games this season, which is in stark contrast to last season’s Super-Bowl-winning offense. The offense has looked even worse over the past four weeks, with the team putting up just 15.5 points per contest during that span. The most glaring regression has been the play of Saquon Barkley, who has gone from MVP finalist to middle-of-the-pack running back in the span of a few months. With Patullo taking the offensive reins from previous OC Kellen Moore, who became the head coach of the New Orleans Saints, it’s not hard to see why fans are pinning the blame on him. Despite the Eagles’ offensive struggles, the team still sits at a solid 8-4 through Week 13. Philly’s elite defense may be masking the team’s offensive inefficiencies thus far. If the Eagles drop a few more games, Sirianni may have a harder time staying loyal to Patullo.
Customize Your Newsletter
+
Get the latest news and rumors, customized to your favorite sports and teams. Emailed daily. Always free!
PRIVACY POLICY EDITORIAL POLICY CONTACT US
ABOUT YARDBARKER TERMS OF SERVICE
Use of this website (including any and all parts and
components) constitutes your acceptance of these
Terms of Service and Privacy Policy.
This site is for entertainment purposes only.
There is no gambling offered on this site.
Gambling Problem? Call 1-800-Gambler.
