Cruz, in a 4-for-37 slump, used his speed to spark the Pirates. He was off and running for his 27th stolen base on a grounder by Andrew McCutchen. Cruz didn’t get the steal but he prevented a double play and later scored the go-ahead run.

Losers of three straight series and seven of their last nine games, the Pittsburgh Pirates sought to avoid a sweep by the Texas Rangers on Sunday afternoon at PNC Park. Bailey Falter took the hill looking to help facilitate that result in the sweltering,