Pirates score 9 unanswered runs to beat Diamondbacks for stunning comeback win

The Pittsburgh Pirates were shut out for the MLB-leading ninth time in 55 games (constituting 16% of their season) Monday night in Phoenix against the Diamondbacks.

For much of Tuesday’s contest at Chase Field, it looked as if shutout No. 10 of the season might be forthcoming for the Pirates.

Instead, however, they managed to rally from a six-run hole, scoring nine unanswered runs to complete an impressive comeback and win, 9-6.

The nine runs scored were the most by the Pirates since April 22.

Only once (April 14, 10 runs) this year have they managed more.

“There’s so many things to go through in that game,” manager Don Kelly said on the SportsNet Pittsburgh postgame show. “It was a great team win.”

Trailing 6-0 heading into the sixth, two runs off Arizona starter Corbin Burnes got the Pirates (20-36) on the board before a seven-run eighth lifted them to victory.

Henry Davis led off with a double in the eighth off Diamondbacks reliever Kevin Ginkel and was moved to third on an Alexander Canario single.

Tommy Pham then made it 6-3 with an RBI infield single to score Davis.

After Ginkel walked Ke’Bryan Hayes to load the bases, Isiah Kiner-Falefa tied the game at six with a bases-clearing double down the left field line.

Arizona reliever Jalen Beeks, a former Pirate, then took over on the hill but Oneil Cruz quickly got aboard on a throwing error by shortstop Geraldo Perdomo.

Then, Bryan Reynolds came to bat and crushed a three-run homer 405 feet to left-center field, giving the Pirates a 9-6 lead.

Reynolds was 4 for 4 with three RBIs in the win.

Davis, who entered the game in the fifth inning for Joey Bart, went 2 for 3 with a homer, double and two RBIs.

“Unbelievable job by him being ready, spur of the moment to get in there and help contribute big to a win,” Kelly said of Davis.

Per Kelly, Bart is being evaluated after taking a foul ball off his catcher’s mask in the fourth inning.

Mike Burrows (0-1, 8.64 ERA) made his second career big-league start Tuesday, but lasted only 3⅓ innings.

He allowed five runs (four earned) on five hits with a pair of walks and strikeouts, taking a no-decision.

Three of the runs charged to him came with his relief, Joey Wentz, on the hill in the fourth inning.

Burnes (4-2, 2.72 ERA) pitched seven innings, allowing two runs while striking out six.

The Diamondbacks took a 1-0 lead in the first, courtesy of a Corbin Carroll solo homer.

Following a 31-pitch first inning, Burrows settled down with a few effective frames, but in the fourth, Gabriel Moreno tripled off the right field wall, setting up an Alek Thomas RBI single that put Arizona up 2-0.

After Burrows walked Jordan Lawlar and committed an error on a Carroll grounder to load the bases with one out, Kelly replaced him with Wentz.

But Perdomo delivered a two-run RBI single on the fourth offering from Wentz, handing the Diamondbacks a 4-0 advantage.

From there, Arizona kept piling on, going up 5-0 when Gurriel placed an RBI base hit out of the reach of shortstop Kiner-Falefa.

It became a 6-0 game shortly thereafter when Naylor singled home Perdomo from second.

Wentz (2-1, 4.15 ERA) was Tuesday’s winning pitcher, pitching 3⅓ innings, allowing one earned run on three hits while striking out four.

“I came in, I wish I wouldn’t have given up all the runs right away, but after that, just tried to get us some outs and go as long as I could,” Wentz said. “Credit to Bart and then (Davis) coming in on a whim like that, getting really engaged on the bench on the bench and taking it over on the field.”

In the sixth, Davis, who entered the game in the bottom of the fifth, replacing Bart, crushed a two-run homer off Burnes to get the Pirates on the board, 6-2.

Davis scored Reynolds, who led off with a walk.

In total, Reynolds was on base five times Tuesday.

“He has been swinging the bat better and a game like this, going 4 for 4, being on base five times, game-winning home run to break the tie there — it was really cool to catch the ball out front,” Kelly said of Reynolds.

With the Pirates now needing to protect a lead in the eighth, Kelly turned to Dennis Santana and he pitched a scoreless frame.

In the ninth, David Bednar came on and earned his sixth save of the year.