PITTSBURGH — In a game where the Pirates faced arguably the best starting pitcher in the National League in right-hander Sandy Alcantara, their offense was pesky, persistent and productive, Pittsburgh tying the game in the ninth to force extra innings and threatening again in the 10th.
Unfortunately for a club that’s not exactly built to win a bunch of back-and-forth games, the Pirates came up a hair short, falling 6-5 in 10 innings to the Marlins at PNC Park on Sunday afternoon.
Trailing by two in the 10th, Ben Gamel drew a two-out walk, and Cal Mitchell smacked a slider into right field to score the extra runner, Kevin Newman. Greg Allen battled against Marlins reliever Jeff Brigham but ultimately struck out swinging on a 96 mph fastball, stranding two.
