The bases were loaded with two outs when Jacob Stallings pertained to bat in the bottom of the ninth inning, and the Pittsburgh Pirates catcher wasnt thinking of the heroics of hitting a home run after popping out in a similar situation earlier in the video game.
New York Mets closer Edwin Diaz pointed to the sky to signify a fly ball when Stallings turned on a waist-high inside pitch. Stallings kept his bat, moseying as he saw the ball sail toward the uneven corner near the nasty pole in left field where Dominic Smith leaped onto the fence with an outstretched glove.
” I didnt even actually run when I hit it,” Stallings stated. “I figured he was either going to capture it or it was going to be a home run, so I figured I may as well simply stand there and see and view what happened.”
A Saturday night that started with the Pirates honoring their 1971 World Series champions ended with Stallings striking a walk-off grand slam to clinch an impressive return, as the Pirates rallied from a six-run deficit for a 9-7 victory prior to a season-best crowd of 27,222 at PNC Park.
” Wow,” Pirates supervisor Derek Shelton said. “That was a heck of a return, man.”
It was the third walk-off grand slam in ballpark history: Brian Giles struck the very first, in a 9-8 win over the Houston Astros on July 28, 2001; and Rob Mackowiak struck one in a 9-5 win over the Chicago Cubs in the very first video game of a doubleheader on May 28, 2004, hours after the birth of his boy, Garrett.
It was the 6th career walk-off hit for Stallings, a 346-foot blast for his career-high eighth homer of the season. It began the first pitch he saw, a 97.8-mph four-seam fastball from Diaz, who had touched 100 on heating units against both John Nogowski and Gregory Polanco.
” He was aggressive. He was prepared to hit. Against a man tossing 100, he stepped up and kept the ball reasonable,” Shelton said. “When he struck it, I understood he got enough of it. I just didnt understand if he was going to keep it fair. He did. He actually stepped up. It was outstanding.”
Stallings blast lit the fuse for the celebration on a night that fittingly ended with fireworks. Base coach Tarrik Brock slapped his hand and 3rd base coach Joey Cora bowed as Stallings rounded the bases prior to being mobbed by his teammates at home plate.
I saw it on the replay, what he was doing, and I do not understand, that was kind of amusing,” Stallings stated. Its the only time I get psychological, truly, and I do not know why. I simply enjoy seeing colleagues cheer one another in moments.
It was a wild ending for a video game that was all Mets (47-42), as Tyler Megill held the Pirates (36-56) scoreless for six innings and Trevor May stranded runners on 2nd and third in the seventh to keep a 6-0 lead.
Third baseman J.D. Davis (3 for 4) hit two-run homers in the 4th and 6th innings off Pirates starter Wil Crowe for a 4-0 lead. The Mets added 2 more run reliever Kyle Keller in the seventh, when Luis Guillorme reached on a mistake by 3rd baseman KeBryan Hayes and scored on a double to center by pinch hitter Travis Blankenhorn for a 5-0 lead and Jeff McNeil singled to score Blankenhorn to make it 6-0.
The Pirates rallied with a five-run eighth versus Seth Luo that was highlighted by Wilmer Difos three-run homer. Bryan Reynolds led off with a walk, Ben Gamel followed with a single to nogowski and best doubled to left to score Reynolds to make it 6-1.
That put runners on 2nd and third for right fielder Gregory Polanco, who was renewed Saturday from the hurt list and drew a walk to load the bases. After Stallings popped out to 2nd, Kevin Newman beat a double play toss for an infield single. Difo followed with a 412-foot pinch-hit drive to right, his second homer in as many games, to make it 6-5.
” Being able to come off the bench, Im a man that goes up to package and takes my at-bat, simply attempting to make a good contact hit, get the ball in play, ensure I get on base,” Difo stated through translator Mike Gonzalez. “However, to get another crowning achievement, particularly in a circumstance like that to help the group get closer to a victory, thats an inexpressible sensation.”
Mets center fielder Brandon Nimmo, nevertheless, quickly quieted the crowd by striking a solo homer to center off Clay Holmes (3-2) to begin the ninth for a 7-5 lead.
Diaz had control issues from the start, striking leadoff batter KeBryan Hayes with a pitch and strolling Reynolds before setting out Ben Gamel. Nogowski singled to pack the bases for Polanco, who set out looking at a 3-2 fastball on the outside corner.
That set the stage for Stallings, whose slam set off a wild event from a crowd that was split between both Mets and Pirates fans.
” That was pretty cool,” Stallings stated. “Certainly one Ill keep in mind.”

Kevin Gorman is a Tribune-Review staff author. You can get in touch with Kevin by email at kgorman@triblive.com or by means of Twitter.

He was ready to hit. “When he hit it, I understood he got enough of it. I saw it on the replay, what he was doing, and I dont understand, that was kind of funny,” Stallings stated. That put runners on third and second for right fielder Gregory Polanco, who was renewed Saturday from the injured list and drew a walk to pack the bases. After Stallings popped out to second, Kevin Newman beat a double play throw for an infield single.