Wild win is Diamondbacks’ latest ‘signature moment’

PITTSBURGH – On the surface, the Diamondbacks probably would have preferred to depart this city after nine innings on Wednesday and before the one-hour, 33-minute rain delay they endured. They’d have rather not experienced the blown save or the reclaiming of the lead, or the next blown save or the subsequent three innings it took to finally score again.

But, as it turned out, not only did they come away with a 6-5 win over the Pittsburgh Pirates in 14 innings at PNC Park, they might also have authored the newest “signature moment” – in the vernacular of manager Torey Lovullo – in a season that already has so many of them they could fill up a scrapbook.

“This was a hard-fought moment,” Lovullo said. “We had two leads that evaporated quickly, and one of them was heartbreaking. One of them was potentially the last batter of the game. These guys really came together and I think that speaks volumes about what this team has inside of them.”

BOX SCORE: Diamondbacks 6, Pirates 5 (14)

The Diamondbacks are 4-3 on a road trip that still has four games remaining, but it has the feel of a trip that has been far more successful. Their bats have gone quiet for stretches. Their defense and bullpen have let them down on multiple occasions. They have not been at their best, and yet, more often than not, the Diamondbacks have done enough to win.

On Wednesday, they got a go-ahead single from Chris Owings in the top of the 14th. Left-hander T.J. McFarland fired three innings of near-perfect relief. Paul Goldschmidt and Nick Ahmed each homered. Jake Lamb had three hits.

They had a 4-3 lead entering the ninth on Wednesday when closer Fernando Rodney issued consecutive walks before an error by Goldschmidt loaded the bases. The Pirates tied it on a double-play groundout – it took an athletic play by Owings at second to turn two – but they couldn’t put the game away.

In the 11th, just as the rain began to fall, Ahmed launched a two-out solo homer to deep-left center, a drive that looked like the last bit of heroics the Diamondbacks would need to leave town with a series victory.

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But the Pirates answered with a two-out shot of their own. With the rain intensified, Jordy Mercer drove a J.J. Hoover fastball out to left-center.

Play was halted before the start of the 12th inning, and Lovullo acknowledged the frustration his team felt during the lengthy delay. But he said they redirected it toward picking each other up and finding a way to secure a win they thought they deserved.

“I think this team does a really good job of just letting that stuff go,” Owings said. “It’s a long season, and you’ve kind of got to be able to let some of those moments go. And it’s just next man up, basically.”

The next man when the rain stopped was McFarland. Three days after throwing three innings in relief against the Brewers, he fired three more, needing just 30 pitches and allowing only an intentional walk to the Pirates’ Andrew McCutchen, who was put on base with the pitcher on deck and the Pirates essentially out of players.

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David Peralta started the 14th with a single, moved to second on a groundout and, after Lamb was intentionally walked, scored when Owings poked the first pitch of the at-bat into right field for a single.

To win a game last week in Milwaukee, the Diamondbacks needed a two-out home run in the top of the ninth from Chris Iannetta. They’ve already won three times in walkoff fashion at home this season, including on Opening Day.

Owings believes this sudden ability of theirs to overcome obstacles can be traced to the veterans sprinkled throughout the roster this season, particularly on the bench and in the bullpen.

“I feel like a lot of the guys that we’ve brought in have kind of changed the mindset a little bit,” he said. “I feel like some of the leadership around here has really helped the ballclub. Just positive mindsets and not getting down on ourselves and just going out there and playing the game the right way.”

Reach Piecoro at (602) 444-8680 or [email protected]. Follow him on Twitter @nickpiecoro.

Thursday’s game

Diamondbacks at Marlins

When: 4:10 p.m.

Where: Marlins Park, Miami.

Pitchers: Diamondbacks RHP Zack Greinke (6-3, 3.24) vs. Marlins LHP Jeff Locke (9-8, 5.44)*.

* — Stats from 2016.

TV/Radio: FSAZ/KTAR-AM (620), KHOV-FM (105.1).

Greinke gave up five runs in 5 1/3 innings against the Brewers on Saturday in Milwaukee. He was hurt by poor defense by LF Yasmany Tomas, who couldn’t catch what looked to be a routine fly ball, a play that led to a big inning for the Brewers. … In seven starts prior to that, Greinke had posted a 2.32 ERA in 50 1/3 innings. … In two starts at Marlins Park in his career, Greinke has given up one run in 15 2/3 innings. … Locke will be making his first start of the season after missing the first two months with left bicep tendinitis. … He had a 5.44 ERA in 127 1/3 innings for the Pirates last season. … He has not thrown well against the Diamondbacks, allowing a 6.57 ERA in 24 2/3 innings. 

Coming up

Friday: At Miami, 4:10 p.m., Diamondbacks LHP Patrick Corbin (4-5, 5.14) vs. Marlins RHP Jose Urena (3-2, 3.14).

Saturday: At Miami, 1:10 p.m., Diamondbacks RHP Randall Delgado (1-0, 3.47) vs. Marlins RHP Edinson Volquez (1-7, 4.44).

Sunday: At Miami, 10:10 a.m., Diamondbacks RHP Taijuan Walker (4-3, 3.46). vs. Marlins LHP Justin Nicolino (0-1, 4.15). 

Up next

Miami Marlins

Marlins update: The Marlins have been one of the more disappointing teams in the league so far this season, but they’ve been playing better of late, entering Wednesday having won six of their past nine games, including three in a row. The Marlins’ bats have come to life in the past nine games; they’re hitting .303 and averaging 6.1 runs per game in that stretch. LF Marcell Ozuna is having a big year, with a .314 average, 13 homers and 36 RBIs. RF Giancarlo Stanton is having a nice year, as well, and he’s been hot of late, hitting .375/.423/.667 in his past 12 games. The Marlins pitching staff is not off to a good start. They own the fifth-worst ERA in the National League at 4.61, with the rotation being particularly bad, ranking third-worst with a 4.96 ERA. Former Diamondbacks reliever Brad Ziegler has a 6.75 ERA in 24 appearances; he’s had a rough May, giving up 15 earned runs in 8 2/3 innings.