PITTSBURGH _ Josh Harrison wanted to get out of the rain. After nine innings of squandered scoring chances Saturday at soggy PNC Park, Harrison shot a walk-off single up the right-center gap in the 10th against Milwaukee Brewers reliever Carlos Torres to cap the Pirates' 2-1 victory.
On a night when right-hander Gerrit Cole pitched a gem, the offense needed extra innings to end it. Gift Ngoepe singled leading off in the 10th and advanced to second base on a wild pitch. Ngoepe moved to third on Jose Osuna's fly ball to center field, setting the stage for Harrison.
The Pirates (14-16) evened the series entering the finale Sunday. They had 11 hits, including four doubles. Josh Bell and Francisco Cervelli had two apiece. The Brewers (15-16) had just three hits.
Harrison's game-winning hit helped wash away the golden scoring opportunities the Pirates missed. In one inning, they recorded back-to-back doubles and no runs. In another, they loaded the bases with no outs for the heart of their lineup. Again, no runs. In the ninth, there were runners at second and third when Jordy Mercer struck out against Brewers closer Neftali Feliz.
The Pirates were 3 for 11 with runners in scoring position, and only Harrison's hit scored a run.
Cole tossed seven innings of one-run baseball, receiving a no-decision. He allowed two hits, including a solo home run, walked two and struck out eight. He also singled, but was stranded.
Cole has been charged with two earned runs or fewer in each of his past five starts, lowering his ERA to 3.14. His record, however, is 1-3. He has become accustomed to minimal run support. The Pirates offense has scored four total runs with Cole on the mound in his past four starts.
The Pirates appeared poised to take an early lead. Typically, back-to-back one-out doubles all but ensure a runner scoring. Pittsburgh's blend of base-running blunders proved an exception.
Francisco Cervelli made the first mistake, waiting too long near second base while he watched to see whether center fielder Keon Broxton would haul in John Jaso's deep fly ball. Broxton did not, but the baseball was returned to the infield quickly. Cervelli advanced only to third base.
At the next crack of the bat, Jaso took off running. Jordy Mercer's liner to left field was caught by Nick Franklin, who hurled the ball to second base to complete the inning-ending double play.
Milwaukee opened the scoring instead. Three-hitter Hernan Perez pounced on a 1-0 fastball Cole left elevated in the strike zone, cranking it to left field for a fourth-inning solo home run. It was Perez's fifth homer this season, and the Brewers' first hit off Cole in the game.
The Pirates knotted the score in the bottom of the frame. Josh Bell, who doubled and homered Friday night, led off with a ground-rule double to the 410-foot sign in left-center field. Gregory Polanco drove in Bell with a ground ball to the right side, his sixth RBI this season.
When it seemed the offense had gained traction, the Pirates only spun their tires.
In the sixth, three consecutive singles by Cole, Harrison and Bell loaded the bases with no outs for Andrew McCutchen. The result was about as poor as they come. McCutchen bounced a curveball to third base for a demoralizing double play, erasing the runners at second and third. With two on base and two away, Polanco grounded out weakly to the second baseman.
Bases loaded. No outs. No runs.
Brewers right-hander Matt Garza exited after seven innings. He gave up eight hits and a run.
Cole had set down 10 hitters in a row when he was lifted after the seventh inning. Left-hander Felipe Rivero continued the trend. He struck out the side on 17 pitches. It was Rivero's league-leading 18th appearance. His ERA dropped to 0.49. He has 19 strikeouts in 181/3 innings.
Closer Tony Watson (2-0) turned in two scoreless innings to set up the walk-off finish.
