Connor Joe homers towards former group as Pirates beat San Francisco 2-1

SAN FRANCISCO (AP) — Connor Joe hit a home run against his former team and the Pittsburgh Pirates defeated San Francisco 2-1 Tuesday night, ending a five-game losing streak against the Giants.

The Pirates moved back to .500 (27-27) after losing for the first time since going 1-2. Pittsburgh won 7-19 after starting the season 20-8.

Joe, playing for San Francisco in 2019, hit a home run against John Brebbia in the first inning. Michael Conforto leveled the game with an RBI single late in the inning.

Pittsburgh got the go in the fifth, helped by a Giants error. With Rodolfo Castro first and an out, Jason Delay hit a single to the left. The ball bounced past left fielder Mitch Haniger, moving Castro to third and Delay to second.

Sean Manaea delivered a wild pitch that allowed Castro to score.

Josh Palacios followed up with a groundball for the first time, but Giants first baseman LaMonte Wade Jr. threw Delay to the plate. The call was disputed and confirmed after review.

Manaea (2-3) allowed just one undeserved run to relief in four innings.

Pirates starter Johan Oviedo struggled with his command but kept the Giants on one run in 4 1/3 innings. He walked five and knocked out five.

Dauri Moreta (2-1) relieved Oviedo in the fifth round and got the win after a scoreless inning.

David Bednar ended the team in the ninth round with two strikeouts and his tenth save from eleven chances.

San Francisco went 1-for-8 with runners in the points position after going 9-for-18 in Monday’s win. The Giants left nine runners on base.

ROSTER MOVEMENTS

The Giants reinstated RHP Luke Jackson from the 60-day injured list and selected INF David Villar to the Triple-A Sacramento. INF Matt Beaty was selected for action.

Jackson signed a two-year, $11.5 million deal with San Francisco in January after missing all of last season with the Braves due to surgery by Tommy John.

TRAINING ROOM

Pirates: 1B Carlos Santana missed his second straight game with a lumbar muscle strain but could return as soon as Wednesday.

Giants: C Joey Bart (left groin strain) led bases and could start rehab this weekend. …OF Joc Pederson (bruised right hand) started his shot development from the tee off the tee.

NEXT

Pirates RHP Mitch Keller (6-1, 3.01) is aiming for his fourth consecutive win in Wednesday afternoon’s rubber game. Keller has batted at least eight batters in six straight appearances. The Giants countered with LHP Alex Wood (1-0, 3.51), who limited the Brewers to one run in 5 2/3 innings for their first win of the season on Friday.

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