Peguero’s homer gives Pirates win over Blue Jays
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BRADENTON, Fla. – Shortstop Liover Peguero capped a three-run bottom of the eighth inning with a two-run homer, giving the Pittsburgh Pirates a 6-5 come-from-behind win over the Toronto Blue Jays on Tuesday in Grapefruit League action.
Toronto scored twice in the top of the eighth off Pittsburgh reliever Brent Honeywell to take a 5-3 lead.
In the bottom of the eighth, Pittsburgh loaded the bases with no outs. The Pirates cut the deficit to 5-4 when Ali Sanchez scored during Jase Bowen’s flyout that turned into a double play,
Puguero then hit his game-winning homer to left centerfield off Toronto reliever Hayden Juenger.
Pittsburgh starter Jared Jones threw two hitless innings, striking out one with one walk.
Quinn Priester followed with two scoreless innings, allowing one run on two hits.
Toronto led 3-0 before Oneil Cruz homered in the fifth. Tsung-Che Cheng homered in the seventh to the score at 3-3, but Toronto scored two runs in the eighth to regain the lead. Will Robertson had an RBI double followed by Miguel Hiraldo’s run-scoring single.
The Pirates outhit the Blue Jays, 9-8. Peguero went 2-for-2.
Andrew McCutchen made his spring debut for the Pirates, playing in a game for the first time since suffering a season-ending tear of his left Achilles last September.
McCutchen went 1-for-2 before being replaced by Sanchez in the sixth inning.