Nick Gonzales slid safely past the tag at home plate, scoring the go-ahead run in the ninth inning to help the Pittsburgh Pirates secure an 8-4 victory over the Texas Rangers on Wednesday in Arlington, Texas.

Gonzales came home on a slow roller to third base off pinch hitter Jake Mangum's bat. Jalen Beeks replaced Cole Winn (1-1) on the mound, and Oneil Cruz wasted no time, greeting the new reliever with a three-run homer that clanged off the top of the right field foul pole.

The ninth-inning rally enabled the Pirates to even the three-game series at 1-1.

Pirates starter Braxton Ashcraft delivered a solid performance, scattering four hits, allowing two runs, walking two, and striking out five over seven innings and 94 pitches. Gregory Soto (1-0) earned the win despite surrendering two runs in the eighth inning, his only inning of work.

Bryan Reynolds led Pittsburgh's offensive effort with two hits and two RBIs, while Spencer Horwitz added two hits.

For the Rangers, Josh Jung provided the bulk of the offense with a two-run homer and a single.

Texas mounted a comeback in the bottom of the eighth inning with a pinch-hit, infield single from Andrew McCutchen to lead off. Brandon Nimmo followed with a one-out double, and Jake Burger’s two-out single brought both runners home to tie the game at 4-4.

Pittsburgh took the early lead with a two-out rally in the first inning. Reynolds doubled to the gap in left field and scored on a line-drive single to left from Marcell Ozuna.

In the second inning, Jung’s two-run blast down the right field line gave the Rangers a 2-1 lead, scoring Joc Pederson.

The Pirates answered in the fifth inning with a two-out RBI single from Brandon Lowe, scoring Horwitz to tie the game at 2-2. Reynolds then singled to drive in Henry Davis. However, Nimmo’s throw from right field sailed wide, up the third base line. As Rangers starter Jack Leiter attempted to back up the play, he tripped over Pittsburgh's equipment in the on-deck circle.

Lowe scored on the throwing error, giving Pittsburgh a 4-2 lead. Leiter stayed in the game after a few warm-up pitches and finished the inning. He allowed four runs (three earned) on five hits and two walks, striking out five over five innings.

-Field Level Media/Reuters