Dominic Smith hits go-ahead double in 9th as Giants rally for 4-2 win over Pirates

PITTSBURGH (AP) — Dominic Smith hit a go-ahead double in the ninth inning, and the San Francisco Giants rallied for a 4-2 win over the Pittsburgh Pirates on Wednesday.

Jung Hoo Lee hit a one-out double down the right-field line off Dennis Santana (3-4). Smith, pinch hitting for Christian Koss, brought Lee in with another double to right to make it 3-2 and Patrick Bailey extended the lead with an RBI single.

Giants reliever Ryan Walker (4-4) struck out the side in the eighth, including Oneil Cruz with two on and two outs. Randy Rodríguez pitched a perfect ninth for his third save.

In the top half, Isaac Mattson gave up a leadoff single to Bailey, a one-out single to Rafael Devers and another single to Willy Adames before departing with the bases loaded. Matt Chapman tied it with a sacrifice fly.

Nick Gonzales put the Pirates ahead with a two-out single to left in the first.

Jerar Encarnación tied it in the fifth with a 442-foot drive to left off a fastball from Andrew Heaney, his second home run of the season after hitting one in an 8-1 win Tuesday. He left after attempting to beat out a throw at first in the seventh. Encarnación will have an MRI on Thursday and Giants manager Bob Melvin said he expects him to miss considerable time with an injured right hamstring.

Heaney, who was tagged for one run and two hits in 4 2/3 innings, had retired 12 straight batters since letting the first two reach. Heliot Ramos started the first inning with a first-pitch single, extending his on-base streak to a career-high 20 games, before Devers was hit by a pitch.

Isiah Kiner-Falefa scored on Tommy Pham’s sacrifice in the fifth, giving the Pirates back the lead.

Robbie Ray struck out eight in six innings for San Francisco, giving up two runs and six hits.

Cruz hit for Joey Bart in the eighth and struck out on a sinker Walker left over the heart of the plate.

Smith extended his hitting streak to 11 games, tying a career-best stretch from Sept. 4-17, 2020, while with the Mets.

The Giants head home to open a three-game series against the Washington Nationals on Friday. The Pirates have RHP Paul Skenes (6-8, 2.02 ERA) on the mound Thursday to start a four-game home set against Cincinnati. RHP Brady Singer (9-8, 4.36 ERA) will start for the Reds.

AP MLB: https://apnews.com/MLB

Pittsburgh Pirates' Nick Gonzales hits an RBI single off of San Francisco Giants pitcher Robbie Ray during the first inning of a baseball game in Pittsburgh, Wednesday, Aug. 6, 2025. (AP Photo/Gene J. Puskar)

San Francisco Giants' Matt Chapman drives in a run with a sacrifice fly off Pittsburgh Pirates pitcher Dennis Santana during the eighth inning of a baseball game in Pittsburgh, Wednesday, Aug. 6, 2025. (AP Photo/Gene J. Puskar)

San Francisco Giants' Jerar Encarnacion, top, celebrates with Christian Koss (50) as he returns to the dugout after hitting a solo home run off Pittsburgh Pirates pitcher Andrew Heaney during the fifth inning of a baseball game in Pittsburgh, Wednesday, Aug. 6, 2025. (AP Photo/Gene J. Puskar)

Pittsburgh Pirates' Isiah Kiner-Falefa (7) slides around the swipe tag attempt by San Francisco Giants catcher Andrew Knizner to score on a sacrifice fly by Tommy Pham during the fifth inning of a baseball game in Pittsburgh, Wednesday, Aug. 6, 2025. (AP Photo/Gene J. Puskar)

San Francisco Giants' Jung Hoo Lee, right, is greeted by Patrick Bailey (14) after scoring on a double by Dominic Smith off Pittsburgh Pirates pitcher Dennis Santana during the ninth inning of a baseball game in Pittsburgh, Wednesday, Aug. 6, 2025. (AP Photo/Gene J. Puskar)

San Francisco Giants' Dominic Smith celebrates as he stands on second base after driving in a run with a double off Pittsburgh Pirates pitcher Dennis Santana during the ninth inning of a baseball game in Pittsburgh, Wednesday, Aug. 6, 2025. (AP Photo/Gene J. Puskar)

Pittsburgh Pirates' Nick Gonzales hits an RBI single off of San Francisco Giants pitcher Robbie Ray during the first inning of a baseball game in Pittsburgh, Wednesday, Aug. 6, 2025. (AP Photo/Gene J. Puskar)

San Francisco Giants' Matt Chapman drives in a run with a sacrifice fly off Pittsburgh Pirates pitcher Dennis Santana during the eighth inning of a baseball game in Pittsburgh, Wednesday, Aug. 6, 2025. (AP Photo/Gene J. Puskar)

San Francisco Giants' Jerar Encarnacion, top, celebrates with Christian Koss (50) as he returns to the dugout after hitting a solo home run off Pittsburgh Pirates pitcher Andrew Heaney during the fifth inning of a baseball game in Pittsburgh, Wednesday, Aug. 6, 2025. (AP Photo/Gene J. Puskar)

DALLAS (AP) — Jamal Murray scored 33 points and the Denver Nuggets held on for a 118-109 victory over the Dallas Mavericks, who were without Cooper Flagg for the second half after the rookie No. 1 overall pick sprained his left ankle Wednesday night.

The Nuggets were comfortably in front when Flagg turned the ankle as he stumbled to the court when he was called for a foul while defending Peyton Watson with 6:01 remaining in the second quarter.

Flagg limped to the locker room, but returned and played the final 2:35 before the break. He didn't come out for the second half before the announcement that he was done for the night. The 19-year-old former Duke standout scored six points in 15 minutes.

Aaron Gordon had 22 points and Watson added 18 for Denver.

Naji Marshall scored 24 points and Brandon Williams had 20 for Dallas, which shot a season-worst 14.7% from 3-point range (5 of 34).

Dallas had trimmed a 23-point deficit to five early in the fourth quarter on a 3-pointer from rookie Ryan Nembhard when former Maverick Tim Hardaway answered with a 3 to start a 13-2 run that put Denver in front 101-85. Murray capped the run with a 3.

The Mavericks got back within six in the final 1:12 before Murray hit a jumper just above the free-throw line and Gordon hit two free throws.

The Mavericks ruled out Daniel Gafford in the second half with a right ankle sprain that has bothered the starting center most of the season.

The Dallas frontcourt was already missing 10-time All-Star Anthony Davis and Dereck Lively II. Davis is expected to miss about six weeks with ligament damage in his left hand. Lively is out for the season following foot surgery.

Nuggets: Washington visits Saturday to start a three-game homestand.

Mavericks: The first of consecutive home games against Utah is Thursday.

AP NBA: https://www.apnews.com/hub/NBA

Denver Nuggets guard Peyton Watson (8) avoids the defense of Dallas Mavericks forward P.J. Washington (25) while preparing to take a shot during the first half of an NBA basketball game Wednesday, Jan. 14, 2026, in Dallas. (AP Photo/Julio Cortez)

Dallas Mavericks guard Klay Thompson, left, and Denver Nuggets guard Bruce Brown scramble on a free throw by the Nuggets during the first half of an NBA basketball game Wednesday, Jan. 14, 2026, in Dallas. (AP Photo/Julio Cortez)

Denver Nuggets guard Jamal Murray, right, goes up for a basket against Dallas Mavericks forward Cooper Flagg during the first half of an NBA basketball game Wednesday, Jan. 14, 2026, in Dallas. (AP Photo/Julio Cortez)

Denver Nuggets guard Jamal Murray drives to the basket against the Dallas Mavericks during the first half of an NBA basketball game Wednesday, Jan. 14, 2026, in Dallas. (AP Photo/Julio Cortez)