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09/18 20:31 CDT Konnor Griffin has 4 hits as the Pirates rally past the Royals
to reach .500
Konnor Griffin has 4 hits as the Pirates rally past the Royals to reach .500
By WILL GRAVES
AP Sports Writer
PITTSBURGH (AP) --- Rookie shortstop Konnor Griffin had four hits, Brandon Lowe
hit his 32nd homer and the Pittsburgh Pirates surged past the Kansas City
Royals 8-5 on Friday night.
Pittsburgh churned out 15 hits against Kansas City to overcome an early
four-run deficit to move back to .500 (77-77) in its bid for the franchise's
first winning season since 2018.
The 20-year-old Griffin, who missed two months with a left-hand injury that
coincided with a summer swoon that saw the Pirates' playoff hopes evaporate,
posted the third four-hit game of his young career. His RBI single in the
seventh off reliever Nate Pearson (2-2) capped a three-run rally.
Yohan Ramirez (7-4) retired all four batters he faced in relief to pick up the
win. Gregory Soto worked the ninth for his 15th save, but just his first since
Aug. 1.
Vinnie Pasquantino and Michael Massey homered for the Royals, but Kansas City
couldn't take advantage of a so-so performance by Pirates ace Paul Skenes.
The reigning NL Cy Young winner scuffled at times during his likely
next-to-last start of the season. The 24-year-old right-hander was tagged for
five runs in six innings with a walk and seven strikeouts but found a rhythm
late, retiring nine of the final 10 batters he faced. Still, his ERA ticked up
to 3.91, nearly double the 1.97 he posted a year ago while becoming the first
Pirate to win pitching's biggest award since 1992.
Kansas City starter Randy Dobnak, a Pittsburgh native, struggled in his second
career start in his hometown. The 31-year-old allowed four runs on seven hits
with two walks and a strikeout in 3 2/3 innings, his shortest outing since
making his debut with the Royals in July.
Up next The series continues Saturday. Noah Cameron (9-8, 3.84 ERA) was set to start for the Royals against Pittsburgh's Bubba Chandler (8-9, 4.28). ___ AP MLB: https://apnews.com/hub/mlb
Up next The series continues Saturday. Noah Cameron (9-8, 3.84 ERA) was set to start for the Royals against Pittsburgh's Bubba Chandler (8-9, 4.28). ___ AP MLB: https://apnews.com/hub/mlb
