MIAMI — For the second time in three games, a combination of poor outfield defense and late-game pitching led the Pittsburgh Pirates to squander a lead in the final third of a ballgame, ultimately leading to a 5-4 loss in 12 innings to the Miami Marlins at loanDepot park.

Dane Myers was the hero for Miami, walking it off with a single off Tim Mayza. George Soriano was the game’s winning pitcher, while Joey Wentz suffered the loss, despite battling for three frames in extra innings.

The Pirates led for the first four innings of the game thanks to an RBI double from Jack Suwinski in the top of the first. The Marlins tied the game in the bottom of the fifth on a sacrifice fly from Xavier Edwards. The two clubs then battled back-and-forth, both scoring runs in the sixth and seventh.

While Miami was better at the plate, tallying 14 hits compared to Pittsburgh’s nine, Derek Shelton’s club created offense once again on the bases, stealing six bags.

Oneil Cruz stole second base in the top of the sixth, and was hit home on the following pitch by a single from Joey Bart. A successfully executed hit-and-run the following inning from Adam Frazier and Isiah Kiner-Falefa put runners on the corners, setting up the club’s third run, which came after Marlins catcher Nick Fortes delivered a throw into center field on a Kiner-Falefa steal, allowing Frazier to trot home without a play.

Similar to opening day, outfield defense hurt the Pirates once again in the late innings. In the bottom of the seventh, Suwinski unnecessarily dove for a ball in right field with two outs, allowing Xavier Edwards to turn a single into a double off Justin Lawrence.

He was brought home the following at-bat by a single to center field by Lopez. Cruz, one again, brushed off the cutoff man and delivered a throw home, allowing Lopez to advance to second. But thankfully for the Pirates, that mental error did not matter, as Lawrence escaped the jam.

Both bullpens held strong until the 11th inning. In the top half, Frazier brought home Ke’Bryan Hayes, the automatic runner, on a ground out to second base. Miami responded in the bottom frame, on an RBI-infield hit from Stowers. That run was made possible by another mistake from Suwinski, who allowed a catchable ball to drop in for a hit in right field the at-bat prior, advancing the automatic runner to third base.

Bryan Reynolds led the 12th inning off with a single to right field. However, Tommy Pham, the Pirates’ automatic runner, was mistakenly sent home and thrown out at the plate by Myers. He then followed that throw with a walk-off hit in the bottom half of the 12th.

The game was over when: With two men on and no outs in the bottom of the 12th, Cruz dropped a deep fly ball to right-center field, loading the bases and putting the game-winning run at third base. While he traveled a significant distance to track the line drive — which was hit by Jonah Bride — Cruz squeezed his glove too early, leading the baseball to drop to the warning track.

On the mound

Unlike his first outing of the season, which was also in Miami, Bailey Falter experienced no early struggles Saturday. Falter’s start began with four scoreless innings, allowing one hit, but also tallying one strikeout each frame. The Marlins tagged Falter for a run in both the fifth and sixth. However, with the go-ahead run in scoring position, the southpaw was able to escape the jam and conclude his quality outing.

Falter finished his workday having allowed just the two runs, both earned, on seven hits. He walked no batters and struck out four, three of those coming from his four-seam fastball which accounted for 31 of his 87 pitches. While he exited the contest in place to be the game’s winning pitcher, a Lopez’s two-out RBI single in the bottom of the seventh gave Falter a no-decision.

At the plate

Suwinski’s first at-bat of the regular season, Suwinski connected on a 1-1 curveball located knee-high over the middle of the plate. The hit, which reached the outfield wall on one hop, brought home Bryan Reynolds for the first run of the game. Pittsburgh should have scored another run on Suwinski’s knock, but Oneil Cruz was thrown out at home plate to end the inning. Had Cruz been running full swing upon contact, he would’ve likely been safe.

Suwinski nearly came up with another big swing in the top of the eighth, smashing a ball to deep left field. However, Marlins outfielder Griffin Conine reached over the wall and made an impressive snag to rob Suwinski of the go-ahead homer. Suwinski’s double was the Pirates’ lone extra-base hit of the game.

Most valuable player

Myers, who threw out Pham at the plate in the top of the 12th before walking it off with a single to right-center in the bottom frame.

Roster moves

Right-hander Peter Strzelecki and outfielder Joshua Palacios, who were both designated for assignment earlier this week, have each cleared waivers and had their contracts assigned to Triple A.

Up next

The Pirates will be back in action Sunday for the final game of their season-opening series against the Marlins at loanDepot park. Left-hander Andrew Heaney will face right-hander Max Meyer on the mound. First pitch is scheduled at 1:40 p.m. ET.

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