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PITTSBURGH — The Pirates were held scoreless in two of their last three games, but the bats broke out for three home runs and an 8-7 win to salvage the series with the Cubs on Sunday afternoon at PNC Park.
Scoring Plays
Top 2nd, 1-0 CHC: Dansby Swanson delivered a two-out single to left field off Braxton Ashcraft (10-4). Michael Conforto just beat a throw home from Bryan Reynolds to give the Cubs (59-46) the lead.
Bottom 2nd, 3-1 PIT: Esmerlyn Valdez tied the game with a solo home run to left field off Jameson Taillon (2-6). Later in the inning, Shawn Ross connected on a 438-foot two-run home run for his first MLB hit to put the Pirates (54-52) ahead.
Bottom 3rd, 7-1 PIT: The Pirates loaded the bases with one out for Ryan O’Hearn, who hit a grand slam to center field for his 17th homer of the season.
Top 4th, 7-4 PIT: The Cubs got three runs back in the top of the fourth. Carson Kelly delivered an RBI single and Pedro Ramírez brought home a runner from third with a groundout to third. Pete Crow-Armstrong capped off the inning with a two-out RBI triple off the Clemente Wall.
Bottom 5th, 8-4 PIT: Valdez drove in his second run of the game with an RBI single to shallow right-center off left-handed reliever Ryan Rolison.
Top 8th, 8-5 PIT: The Cubs opened the eighth with three straight hits against Carmen Mlodzinski and Nico Hoerner’s base hit cut the Pirates’ lead to three.
Top 9th, 8-7 PIT: Seiya Suzuki hit a two-run home run off Mason Montgomery to bring the Cubs within one.
Key Moments
Ryan O’Hearn’s grand slam provided the Pirates with enough wiggle room to successfully fend off a Cubs’ comeback attempt.
The Cubs brought the tying run to the plate three times in the eighth but Carmen Mlodzinski got Michael Conforto to fly out, struck out Carson Kelly and induced an inning-ending groundout against Pedro Ramírez.
Player of the Game
Ryan O’Hearn connected on his fourth-career grand slam, reached base safely three times and scored twice in the win.
Stat to Know
Ryan O’Hearn, who turned 33 on Sunday, became the fourth Pirate to hit a grand slam on his birthday. He joined R.J. Reynolds (April 19, 1996), Bill Mazeroski (Sep. 5, 1966) and Frank Thomas (June 11, 1958).
Notable Performances
- Braxton Ashcraft: 6.0 innings, seven hits, four runs, two walks, five strikeouts, 93 pitches/64 strikes
- Ryan O’Hearn: 1 for 2, one home run, two walks, four RBIs, two runs
- Esmerlyn Valdez: 2 for 3, one home run, one walk, two RBIs, two runs
- Shawn Ross: 1 for 4, one home run, two RBIs, one run
- Brandon Lowe: 3 for 4, one double, two runs
- Nick Gonzales: 2 for 4
Noteworthy
- Mason Montgomery earned his second save of the season. After Seiya Suzuki’s home run, he retired Michael Busch and Pittsburgh-native Ian Happ.
- Shawn Ross was making his first MLB start, serving as the battery mate for starter Braxton Ashcraft.
- Bryan Reynolds was hitless in his last 20 at-bats prior to his one-out double in the third.
- Nick Gonzales extended his hitting streak to 10 games.
Up Next
The Pirates’ homestand continues against the Diamondbacks on Monday night. RHP Mitch Keller (6-7, 4.90 ERA) gets the ball for Pittsburgh opposite RHP Merrill Kelly (8-8, 5.12 ERA). First pitch: 6:40 p.m. ET on SportsNet Pittsburgh/93.7 The Fan.
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