(File Photo: Source for Photo: Pittsburgh Pirates’ Ryan O’Hearn watches his two-run home run against Houston Astros starting pitcher Kai-Wei Teng during the sixth inning of a baseball game, Thursday, June 4, 2026, in Houston. (AP Photo/Karen Warren)

HOUSTON (AP) — Ryan O’Hearn homered and drove in three runs to lead the Pittsburgh Pirates to a 5-1 win over the Houston Astros on Thursday night.

O’Hearn hit an RBI single in the first inning and his two-run homer in the sixth made it 4-0.

Pittsburgh’s Jared Jones (1-0) allowed four hits and walked two in five scoreless innings. Carmen Mlodzinski gave up four hits and a run the rest of the way to get his first save. It was his first work since being put on the restricted list for a day after general manager Ben Cherington told reporters he wasn’t ready to pitch Sunday following a move to the bullpen.

Isaac Paredes hit a solo homer in the sixth inning for the Astros to become the fourth Mexican-born player in the MLB history to reach 100 for his career. But it wasn’t nearly enough to keep Houston from its third loss in four games.

The Pirates’ run of four straight games in which they scored at least nine runs ended. But they still generated plenty of offense to bounce back and take the series after a late-game collapse cost them Wednesday’s game.

Houston starter Kai-Wei Teng (3-4) gave up seven hits and five runs — both season highs — in five-plus innings.

The Pirates led by a run when Brandon Lowe doubled to open the sixth before scoring on a single by Bryan Reynolds.

O’Hearn then launched Teng’s next pitch over the short fence in right field to push the lead to 4-0. Nick Gonzales singled to chase Teng and Steven Okert took over.

Oneil Cruz singled on a groundball to right field. There were two outs in the inning when Jared Triolo reached on an error by Jeremy Peña that allowed Gonzales to score and make it 5-0.

Up next

Pirates: RHP Mitch Keller (5-2, 4.35 ERA) opposes Atlanta LHP Martín Pérez (3-3, 2.79) when Pittsburgh opens a three-games series against the Braves on Friday night.

Astros: RHP Peter Lambert (4-4, 3.77) pitches against RHP Jack Perkins (2-2, 5.46) on Friday night in the first of three games against the Athletics.

(File Photo of the Blackhawk School District Logo)

Noah Haswell, Beaver County Radio News

(Lewistown, PA) Blackhawk softball is headed to the PIAA semifinals for the first time in program history after defeating Monsignor Bonner/Archbishop Prendergast Catholic 2-0 yesterday at Mifflin County High School in Lewistown.

The Lady Cougars will face District 10 champion Harbor Creek in the 2026 PIAA semifinals on Monday, June 8.

(File Photo of the Hopewell Area School District)

Noah Haswell, Beaver County Radio News

(Monroeville, PA) Hopewell’s high school baseball season came to an end yesterday with a 10-0 loss to Indiana in six innings at Gateway High School in Monroeville.

The defeat ends Hopewell’s postseason run after the Vikings finished third in the WPIAL and advanced to the state quarterfinals for the second time since 2023.

(File Photo: Source for Photo: FILE – Pittsburgh Steelers tight end Darnell Washington warms up before an NFL football game against the Baltimore Ravens, Dec. 7, 2025, in Baltimore. (AP Photo/Stephanie Scarbrough, File)

PITTSBURGH (AP) — The Pittsburgh Steelers are making a big investment in tight end Darnell Washington.

The club signed the 6-foot-7, 264-pound Washington to a new five-year contract that will keep him in black and gold for the rest of the decade.

Washington, who had a career-best 31 receptions for 364 yards and a touchdown last season, was about to enter the final year of the rookie contract he signed after being selected in the third round of the 2023 draft.

The deal is the second extension signed by a member of Pittsburgh’s 2023 draft class this week. The team and outside linebacker Nick Herbig agreed to a five-year deal on Wednesday.

Washington, who plays well above his listed weight, often works as a sixth offensive lineman but has become increasingly involved in the passing game. First-year head coach Mike McCarthy has raved about Washington’s work ethic and his potential going forward.

“Love Darnell,” McCarthy said this week. “He’s been here every day, in the classroom, good student, he’s a pro’s pro. I’ve been very impressed with him.”

(Credit for Photo: AP Photo/Reed Hoffmann)

Noah Haswell, Beaver County Radio News

(Pittsburgh, PA) The Pittsburgh Steelers have agreed to a one-year contract with veteran tight end Robert Tonyan, according to ESPN’s Brooke Pryor.

Tonyan, 32, recently participated in a tryout with the Steelers and will now join the team’s roster.

He spent six seasons with the Green Bay Packers from 2018-2023, where he played alongside current Steelers quarterback Aaron Rodgers. Tonyan was also coached by Steelers head coach Mike McCarthy when McCarthy was the head coach of the Packers in 2018.

Tonyan’s best season came in 2020, when he caught 52 passes for 586 yards and 11 touchdowns.

Last season, Tonyan appeared in all 17 games for the Kansas City Chiefs. He played primarily on special teams and recorded one reception.

Tonyan entered the NFL as an undrafted free agent in 2017 and has appeared in 107 career games with 24 starts for the Packers, Chicago Bears, Minnesota Vikings and Chiefs. He has totaled 149 receptions for 1,550 yards and 17 touchdowns during his career.

(Credit for Photo: Photo Courtesy of the Associated Press, Caption for Photo: Pittsburgh Steelers defensive tackle Keeanu Benton (95) celebrates after a sack during the first half of an NFL exhibition game against the Buffalo Bills, Saturday, Aug. 17, 2024, in Pittsburgh. The Bills won 9-3.

Noah Haswell, Beaver County Radio News

(Pittsburgh, PA) The Pittsburgh Steelers and defensive tackle Keeanu Benton have begun discussions on a potential contract extension, according to Alan Saunders of Steelers Now.

Benton, a second-round pick in the 2023 NFL Draft, is coming off a career year in 2025 in which he recorded 51 tackles and 5.5 sacks, including six tackles for loss.

(Credit for Photo: Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Russell Wilson scrambles out of the pocket during the NFL football team’s training camp in Latrobe, Pa., Tuesday, July 30, 2024. (AP Photo/Phil Pavely)

NEW YORK (AP) — Ten-time Pro Bowl quarterback Russell Wilson confirmed Wednesday in a video posted to social media that that he’s retiring from the NFL to take a job with CBS Sports.

Wilson’s announcement came two days after news broke that he was finalizing a deal to become an analyst on CBS’ Sunday NFL pregame show.

“As I enter this next chapter with CBS Sports and ‘The NFL Today,’ I’m so blessed to continue doing what I love most — being around the greatest game in the world,” he said in the video.

Wilson played 14 seasons after being taken by Seattle in the third round of the 2012 NFL draft out of N.C. State. He spent his first 10 seasons with the Seahawks, leading them to their first Super Bowl championship in the 2013 season. He was traded to Denver after the 2021 season and spent two rocky years with the Broncos before playing one season in Pittsburgh and another for the New York Giants.

Wilson threw for 46,966 yards, with 353 touchdown passes and 114 interceptions.

He joins Peyton Manning and Dan Marino as the only quarterbacks to throw at least 20 touchdown passes in each of their first three seasons and is one of seven quarterbacks to be selected to 10 Pro Bowls.

Wilson is the only player in NFL history with at least 30 touchdown passes and fewer than 15 interceptions in four straight seasons. He also had three seasons with at least 30 TD passes and 500 yards rushing, which is the most in NFL history.

In the video, which was about three minutes long, he thanked his teammates, friends and family and gave special thanks to former Seahawks coach Pete Carroll.

“Thanks for taking a chance on a young, 5-11 Black kid from Richmond, Virginia, that was told he was too small to ever make it in the NFL,” Wilson said.

Wilson is the shortest starting quarterback to win a Super Bowl.

Wilson will replace Matt Ryan, who joined the Atlanta Falcons as president of football after two seasons on “The NFL Today.” Wilson had considered returning for a 15th season, telling the New York Post last month that he was mulling an offer to join the New York Jets and back up Geno Smith.

His video featured highlights from his career and footage of him visiting patients at Seattle Children’s Hospital. It ended with him thanking his wife, Ciara, and the sport he dedicated his life to.

“I thank you, football. … I am forever grateful,” he said.

(File Photo: Source for Photo: Houston Astros’ Christian Walker (8) and Isaac Paredes (15) celebrate their runs scored on Cam Smith’s RBI triple for the go-ahead runs against the Pittsburgh Pirates during the eighth inning of a baseball game, Wednesday, June 3, 2026, in Houston. (AP Photo/Karen Warren)

HOUSTON (AP) — Cam Smith hit a tiebreaking two-run triple to cap Houston’s six-run eighth inning, Isaac Paredes homered and the Astros overcame a five-run deficit to beat the Pittsburgh Pirates 11-9 on Wednesday night.

Yordan Alvarez had four hits and two RBIs for the Astros. Smith and Paredes had two hits and three RBIs apiece, and Jeremy Peña went 2 for 3 with a double.

AJ Blubaugh (3-2) pitched the eighth inning to get the victory. Josh Hader made his season debut and worked a scoreless ninth for the save, ending the Pirates’ winning streak at four.

Houston starter Spencer Arrighetti, who went 4-1 in five starts with a 0.93 ERA in May, allowed four runs in four innings.

Henry Davis hit his first career grand slam in the fourth inning for Pittsburgh. Nick Gonzalez had a homer, double and three RBIs.

The Pirates have scored nine-plus runs in four consecutive games, the longest streak in the majors this season, and has struck out at least nine batters in eight straight games.

Pittsburgh’s Gregory Soto (4-1), who faced four batters, allowed three runs and three hits and walked one.

Up next

Pirates RHP Jared Jones (0-0, 10.48 ERA) was set to start Thursday against RHP Kai-Wei Teng (3-3, 2.57) in the series finale.

(File Photo of the PIAA Logo)

Noah Haswell, Beaver County Radio News

(Beaver County, PA) Three Beaver Valley high school sports teams are still in the PIAA playoffs after their most recent victories. Quaker Valley girls lacrosse defeated Bellefonte yesterday 19-5. Blackhawk softball defeated Punxsutawney on Monday 12-6. Hopewell baseball defeated General McClane on Monday 9-1. The quarterfinal schedule has been released. According to reports from the Beaver County Times and the Butler Eagle, here is when these local teams will be playing:

Thursday, June 4th

PIAA high school baseball quarterfinal schedule

[WPIAL-No. 1] Indiana Vs [WPIAL-No. 3] Hopewell, Noon at Gateway (4A)

PIAA high school softball quarterfinal schedule

[WPIAL-No. 2] Blackhawk Vs [D12-No. 3 Bonner Prendie, 3 p.m. at Mifflin County High School (4A)

Saturday, June 6th

PIAA high school lacrosse (girls)

Quaker Valley vs. Wyomissing, TBD

(Credit for Photo: (AP Photo/Nick Wass) Caption for Photo: Washington Commanders safety Darnell Savage in action during the second half of an NFL football game against the Seattle Seahawks, Sunday, Nov. 2, 2025, in Landover, Maryland.

Noah Haswell, Beaver County Radio News

(Pittsburgh, PA) The Pittsburgh Steelers have signed veteran safety Darnell Savage to a one-year contract. 

Savage, 28, has appeared in 88 games with 82 starts during his seven NFL seasons. He was a first-round pick by the Green Bay Packers in 2019 and spent five seasons in Green Bay before stints with the Jacksonville Jaguars, Washington Commanders and Buffalo Bills. 

Over his career, Savage has recorded 367 tackles, 10 interceptions, 40 passes defended, 11 tackles for loss, three forced fumbles, two fumble recoveries and one sack. One of his interceptions was returned for a touchdown. 

In 2025, Savage appeared in 12 games with the Jaguars, Commanders and Bills, totaling 25 tackles, three passes defended and one forced fumble.