Pirates Score Eight Straight, Dodge Another Bullpen Blowup
· Yahoo Sports
PHILADELPHIA — The Pittsburgh Pirates scored eight unanswered runs on Monday, June 29, taking the first of their four-game set with the Phillies 11-7 despite falling into a 5-0 hole after three innings.
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Scoring Plays
Bottom 1st, 2-0 PHI: Philadelphia got things started with a pair of solo home runs against Pirates’ (43-42) starter Braxton Ashcraft.
Bottom 3rd, 5-0 PHI: Justin Crawford and Turner singled, putting runners at the corners, then Kyle Schwarber brought Crawford in with a sacrifice fly. Bryce Harper made it 5-0 with a 106.7 mile per hour homer smoked to right field.
Top 4th, 5-2 PHI: Pittsburgh got two back the following frame. Bryan Reynolds doubled off the wall in a play reviewed as a potential home run; Esmerlyn Valdez left no doubt soon thereafter, pummeling his fourth home run in the past four games.
Top 5th, 8-5 PIT: Jared Triolo led off the fifth with a home run. Jake Mangum doubled and Konnor Griffin hit a bunt single to put two aboard; a Brandon Lowe sacrifice fly made it 5-4, and Ryan O’Hearn brought the tying run home with a base hit.
Don Mattingly’s call to the bullpen backfired, as Endy Rodríguez walked in a run on a payoff pitch. Tyler Callihan grounded into what should’ve been an inning-ending 3-6-3 double play, but Turner airmailed the return throw, allowing two runs to cross.
Bottom 8th, 8-7 PIT: Marsh homered again with one away in the eighth, tagging Gregory Soto for a run and — after a three-run meltdown on June 27 — spiking the blood pressure of every Pirates’ fan in the process. Bryson Stott singled, took second on a wild pitch from Yohan Ramírez, then scored on a Realmuto base hit that brought the go-ahead run to the plate.
Ramírez got Justin Crawford looking on a curveball that dotted the outside edge of the plate, escaping the inning with the lead intact.
Top 9th, 11-7 PIT: Rodríguez hit a three-run homer to stop the heartache.
Key Moment
The Pirates’ fifth inning rally, when they sent ten batters to the plate and scored six runs, storming in front for the first time. Their ability to maintain momentum through a pitching change — and Turner’s inopportune error — put them in the driver’s seat.
Player of the Game
Esmerlyn Valdez, who reached base four times and got the Pirates’ rally started with a two-run bomb in the fourth.
Stat to Know
Esmerlyn Valdez became the first Pirate to homer in four straight games since Corey Dickerson (July 15-22, 2018). Valdez is one of two Pirates rookies in the modern era to complete the feat, joining Garrett Jones (July 10-17, 2009) and Dick Stuart (August 16-20, 1958).
Notable Performances
- Esmerlyn Valdez: 2-for-3 with a homer and two walks
- Endy Rodríguez: 2-for-3 with a homer and two walks
- Bryan Reynolds: 1-for-4 with a double and a walk
- Konnor Griffin: 2-for-5 with a double and a steal
- Jared Triolo: 1-for-4 with a homer
Noteworthy
- Triolo’s home run marked his first since Sept. 21, 2025.
- Gregory Soto’s ERA sits at 13.50 for the month of June (7.1 innings, nine appearances).
Up Next
The series with the Phillies will continue at 6:40 p.m. on Tuesday, June 30. The Pirates will send Bubba Chandler (3-7, 4.42 ERA, 73 SO) to the mound against left-handed All-Star candidate Cristopher Sánchez (9-3, 2.13 ERA, 127 SO).
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