PITTSBURGH — The Phillies are on a rampage.
After sleepwalking through the first six innings Saturday afternoon, they rallied for three two-out runs in the seventh inning to beat the Pittsburgh Pirates, 3-2, on a sun-splashed day at picturesque PNC Park.
The victory was the Phillies’ sixth in a row and eighth in the last nine games as they remained tied atop the National League East with the Atlanta Braves.
The Phillies are 6-0 against the Pirates this season and 49-37 overall. They will go for a series sweep — their first ever at PNC Park — and their 50th win on Sunday afternoon.
Last season, the Phils did not notch their 50th win until August 31.
Jake Arrieta earned Saturday’s pitching win, his first since May 29, with seven innings of two-run ball. He walked one and struck out eight. The right-hander had carried an ERA of 6.16 over his previous six starts into the outing.
MLB
Arrieta threw a wild pitch in the first inning. That and an unsuccessful infield shift cost him a run in the first inning. In the third inning, he gave up a solo homer to Starling Marte to fall behind, 2-0. He allowed just one base runner the remainder of his outing.
The Phils, who won the series opener, 17-5, on Friday night, did little against Pittsburgh starter Jameson Taillon over the first six innings. The right-hander allowed just three singles over the first 6 1/3 innings.
With two outs in the seventh and Carlos Santana on first base via a fielder’s choice, the Phillies’ offense finally awakened. Nick Williams stroked an RBI triple into the right-field corner and Scott Kingery, who had four hits Friday night, followed with a first-pitch base hit up the middle to tie the game. Taillon exited for Edgar Santana. Jorge Alfaro greeted him with a go-ahead double to right-center.
Arrieta put up a zero in the bottom of the seventh and manager Kapler went to a rested Seranthony Dominguez in the bottom of the eighth inning. Dominguez pitched a scoreless inning and struck out two. He exited for a pinch-hitter (Andrew Knapp struck out) after the Phils loaded the bases in the top of the ninth. Victor Arano came on for the bottom of the inning and gave up a leadoff double to Corey Dickerson on an 0-2 pitch. Arano then came back with three straight outs (two strikeouts and a fly ball to center) to pick up a tough save.
Notes
• Drew Anderson will be called up from Triple A to start Sunday’s series finale. He was scratched from his start Saturday. The Phils play a doubleheader in New York on Monday, which Aaron Nola and Zach Eflin will start. The Phillies could then add someone for Tuesday. Vince Velasquez is on the disabled list, but he is expected to be able to come off the DL and pitch Wednesday in New York.
• Cesar Hernandez did not start. He took a foul ball off the right foot Friday night. Manager Gabe Kapler said he was just using caution in holding Hernandez out. Hernandez appeared as a pinch-hitter in the eighth inning.