Central Plains FFA Chapter

07/29 14:13 CDT Rodrguez goes 8 innings, Moreno hits 2-run homer as Diamondbacks blank Pirates 3-0 Rodrguez goes 8 innings, Moreno hits 2-run homer as Diamondbacks blank Pirates 3-0 PITTSBURGH (AP) --- Eduardo Rodrguez pitched eight shutout innings, Gabriel Moreno hit a two-run homer and the Arizona Diamondbacks beat the Pittsburgh Pirates 3-0 on Wednesday, clinching the three-game series. Arizona (57-52) now sits two games up on the Pirates (55-54) for the final NL wild card. Rodrguez (10-3) struck out two while giving up five hits on 105 pitches before Brandyn Garcia closed out a hitless ninth inning for his second save of the year. The loss marked the fifth straight against a left-handed opener for Pittsburgh, while Diamondbacks starters gave up zero earned runs in 20 2/3 innings pitched this series. Moreno scored the game's first runs, smashing a slider 407 feet into the lawn past the center-field wall. With the hit, he extended his on-base streak to 26 consecutive games. Max Kepler drove in the only other score with an RBI single in the sixth inning. Despite three consecutive three-up, three-down innings to start the game, Jared Jones (2-2) surrendered all three runs and struck out five in six innings for the Pirates. The Pirates have been shut out in three of their last seven games. They lost 2-0 to the Yankees a week ago and 11-0 to the Cubs on Saturday.

Up next Diamondbacks: After an off day, LHP Mitch Bratt (0-1, 6.32 ERA) takes the mound for Game 1 of a weekend series at the Cleveland Guardians on Friday. Pirates: Yet to announce a starter for Thursday's opener of a four-game series at the Cincinnati Reds. ___ AP MLB: https://apnews.com/hub/mlb