Early Fireworks, Solid Bullpen Salvage Win Ahead of All Star Break (41-49)

7/9/23- By Michael Castrignano – @412DoublePlay on TwitterBreaking out a bullpen game ahead of a 4-day break, Pirates managed to end the first half of the season on a high note, netting a 4-2 victory over the NL West leading Arizona Diamondbacks. Pittsburgh led off with Carmen Mlodzinski – who made his first start with the Pirates after working solely out of the bullpen since his call-up. He worked 1.1 hitless innings, allowing one unearned run off an Austin Hedges throwing error, walking 2 and striking out 1. Down 1-0, Carlos Santana worked a walk against Diamondbacks starter Zach Davies before Ji Man Choi changed the score with a blast that got out in a hurry.https://twitter.com/Pirates/status/1678141124131553280Southpaw Ryan Borucki took over for Mlodzinski and promptly allowed Arizona to tie it back up, losing the left-on-left battle against center fielder Alek Thomas https://twitter.com/alexjweiner/status/1678148078409510913 The score held at 2-2 until the 5th inning when Tucupita Marcano and Nick Gonzales led off with back-to-back singles, Hedges sacrificed them into scoring position and Jack Suwinski hit a sac fly to left as Marcano scored the go-ahead run.Choi led off the 9th inning with a double and, after pinch runner Connor Joe came in, Jared Triolo drove in an insurance run with a single to right.News & Notes

• Pirates pitchers of Mlodzinski, Borucki, Osvaldo Bido, Angel Perdomo, Yerry de los Santos, Colin Holderman and David Bednar combined for 121 pitches (80 strikes), allowing 1 earned run off 4 hits, 3 walks and striking out 6.Bido earned his first win of his MLB career.Bednar shut the door, notching his 17th save of the year and 13th in a row.Choi enjoyed his first multi-hit game since April 11th at home against the Astros.Triolo heads into the break with a 6-game hit streak.Pirates are off for the All Star Break this week. Team will return home Friday to host the San Francisco Giants. Let’s Go Bucs!