Ryan O’Hearn homers twice, helps Pirates avoid sweep with 9-4 win over Reds

(File Photo: Source for Photo: Pittsburgh Pirates’ Tyler Callihan (37) celebrates with Ryan O’Hearn (29) as he crosses home plate after hitting a three-run home run off Cincinnati Reds pitcher Brady Singer during the second inning of a baseball game in Pittsburgh, Sunday, June 28, 2026. (AP Photo/Gene J. Puskar)

PITTSBURGH (AP) — Ryan O’Hearn homered twice in a game for the third time in the majors and drove in four runs to help the Pittsburgh Pirates avoid a series sweep with a 9-4 win over the Cincinnati Reds on Sunday.

O’Hearn put Pittsburgh in front 5-4 in the fifth inning with a 421-foot drive to right off Brady Singer (3-7).

After 65-minute rain delay with one out in the bottom of the eighth, Pierce Johnson walked Bryan Reynolds and Nick Gonzales before O’Hearn hit a three-run shot to make it 8-4. Esmerlyn Valdéz followed O’Hearn by homering for a third straight game.

Mitch Keller (6-5) went six innings for the Pirates, allowing four runs — three earned — and five hits with four strikeouts and a walk.

X-rays were inconclusive on Eugenio Suárez’s left hand after he was hit by a pitch from Keller in the sixth inning and forced to leave the game. Manager Terry Francona said Suárez will have a CT scan on Monday after traveling with the team to Milwaukee for the start of a four-game series against the Brewers.

Singer gave up five runs and nine hits with six strikeouts in 4 1/3 innings for the Reds.

Pittsburgh scored four runs before recording an out in the second inning. Gonzales and O’Hearn started with a pair of singles before Valdéz made it 1-0 on a ground-rule double. Tyler Callihan then sent a sinker 412 feet to right for a three-run homer.

Elly De La Cruz reached safely on a fielding error by Pirates second baseman Brandon Lowe to begin the fourth. A double by Sal Stewart put two runners in scoring position. JJ Bleday took advantage with a two-run single that dropped into right field and cut the deficit to 4-2.

Tyler Stephenson lined an RBI double past a diving Callihan in left field and scored on Edwin Arroyo’s single down the line in right, tying it at 4 in the fifth.

The Pirates twice failed to score with the bases loaded and no outs. Konnor Griffin grounded into a force out, Lowe struck out and Reynolds grounded to third in the fourth. In the seventh, Henry Davis popped up to short and Griffin hit into a double play.

Up next

Reds: LHP Nick Lodolo (2-2, 5.59 ERA) will take the mound Monday for the first of a four-game set in Milwaukee against Brewers LHP Robert Gasser (1-3, 4.50 ERA).

Pirates: RHP Braxton Ashcraft (7-3, 3.07 ERA) will start the first of a four-game series in Philadelphia on Monday against Phillies RHP Aaron Nola (3-4, 5.58 ERA).

Eugenio Suárez hits 3-run homer in 9th as Reds rally for 9-7 win over Pirates

(File Photo: Source for Photo: Cincinnati Reds’ Eugenio Suárez celebrates as he crosses home plate after hitting a three-run home run off Pittsburgh Pirates pitcher Gregory Soto during the ninth inning of a baseball game in Pittsburgh, Saturday, June 27, 2026. (AP Photo/Gene J. Puskar)

PITTSBURGH (AP) — Eugenio Suárez hit a three-run homer with two outs in the ninth inning that rallied the Cincinnati Reds to a 9-7 victory over the Pittsburgh Pirates on Saturday.

Trying to protect a one-run lead, Gregory Soto (4-2) let the first two Reds batters reach safely in the ninth before getting Sal Stewart to ground into a double play. Soto then walked JJ Bleday in front of Suárez, who drove a 2-2 sinker below the strike zone 344 feet the other way to right field.

Chase Petty retired the side in order in the ninth for his first major league save.

Suárez’s homer came after Esmerlyn Valdéz put Pittsburgh ahead 7-6 with a pinch-hit homer off Caleb Ferguson (1-0) in the eighth.

The Reds led three times and trailed twice. They were in front 2-0 and 6-4 before going up for good in the ninth. The Pirates went on top 4-2 in the fourth.

Stewart produced Cincinnati’s first two runs. After a 36-minute rain delay, he sent a fastball from Jared Jones 372 feet over the right-field wall in the first inning for his team-leading 15th homer. In the third, Stewart drove in Jose Trevino with a two-out single that pushed third baseman Nick Gonzales to the edge of the infield ahead of an errant throw to first.

Brandon Lowe gave the Pirates a 3-2 lead in the third with a three-run homer.

Endy Rodríguez doubled in the fourth and scored on Jared Triolo’s two-out single for a 4-2 lead.

Edwin Arroyo hit an RBI double for the Reds in the fifth and scored on Lowe’s fielding error at second base with two outs, tying it 4-all.

Jones went 4 2/3 innings, giving up four runs (three earned) and four hits.

Trevino put Cincinnati back ahead 6-4 by sneaking a two-run single through the right side in the sixth.

Reds ace Chase Burns was pulled after giving up a leadoff double to Triolo in the seventh. Triolo scored on Lowe’s sacrifice fly.

Burns was charged with five runs and nine hits in six-plus innings. He struck out 10.

Ryan O’Hearn tied it 6-all with a two-out RBI single off Sam Moll later in the seventh.

Up next

Pirates RHP Mitch Keller (5-5, 4.89 ERA) starts the series finale Sunday against RHP Brady Singer (3-6, 4.81).

Noelvi Marte’s tiebreaking homer in 8th after 4-run inning against Skenes helps Reds beat Pirates 6-4

(File Photo: Source for Photo: Cincinnati Reds’ Noelvi Marte (4) celebrates with Sal Stewart (27) as he crosses home plate after hitting a two-run home run off Pittsburgh Pirates pitcher Mason Montgomery during the eighth inning of a baseball game in Pittsburgh, Friday, June 26, 2026. (AP Photo/Gene J. Puskar)

PITTSBURGH (AP) — Pinch-hitter Noelvi Marte hit a tiebreaking, two-run homer in the eighth inning after Cincinnati scored four runs off Paul Skenes in the second, and the Reds beat the Pittsburgh Pirates 6-4 on Friday night.

Given a 1-0 lead on Konnor Griffin’s homer leading off the first, Skenes allowed RBI singles to Spencer Steer and Tyler Stephenson and sacrifice flies to Blake Dunn and Elly De La Cruz. After the singles put the Reds ahead 2-1, Cincinnati loaded the bases with no outs when a called third strike by umpire Jeremie Rehak against Matt McLain on a full-count pitch was changed to a ball in an ABS appeal.

Skenes, the reigning NL Cy Young Award winner, gave up four runs, six hits and two walks while striking out seven in five innings. His ERA rose from 2.86 to 3.10.

With the score 4-4, Sal Stewart singled off Mason Montgomery (2-3) with one out in the eighth and Marte followed with a 405-foot homer.

Griffin, at 20 years, 63 days, became the fifth-youngest player to hit a leadoff homer after the Kansas City Athletics’ Lou Klimchock (18-348) in 1958, Bob Kennedy of the Chicago White Sox (19-257) in 1940, the New York Yankees’ Mickey Mantle (19-328) in 1951 and the Boston Braves’ Sibby Sisti (19-356) in 1940.

Brock Burke (3-3) walked one and had two strikeouts in an inning of relief and Caleb Ferguson pitched a one-hit ninth for his first save since 2024 with the New York Yankees.

Cincinnati had lost its five previous games against Pittsburgh.

Tyler Stephenson had two hits and an RBI for Cincinnati.

Marcell Ozuna and Esmerlyn Valdez also hit solo homers for the Pirates.

Reds starter Andrew Abbott gave up four runs — three earned —- and six hits in 5 1/3 innings with six strikeouts.

Cincinnati placed relieved Tony Santillan on the 15-day injured list, retroactive to Tuesday, because of a strained left oblique that manager Terry Francona said is likely to sideline the right-hander for a significant period.

Up next

Reds RHP Chase Burns (9-1, 2.00 ERA) starts Saturday opposite Pirated RHP Jared Jones (1-1, 5.75).

Hoffmann Family of Companies leaders introduced to Pittsburgh after purchasing the Penguins from Fenway Sports Group

(File Photo: Source for Photo: Pittsburgh Penguins’ Sidney Crosby plays during an NHL hockey game Monday, Dec. 1, 2025, in Philadelphia. (AP Photo/Matt Slocum)

Noah Haswell, Beaver County Radio News

(Pittsburgh, PA) The new owners of the Pittsburgh Penguins were introduced to the city of Pittsburgh yesterday. The Hoffmann Family of Companies bought the team from the Fenway Sports Group after National Hockey League board of governors unanimously approved the sale on Tuesday. This transaction is expected to close in the near future. Financial terms were not announced, but the deal is reportedly valued at about $1.7 billion. People got to meet the leaders of the company, father David Hoffmann and brothers Geoff and Greg Hoffmann. Geoff Hoffmann said in a news conference at PPG Paints Area that their purchase of the Penguins is “a commitment to an organization.” 

Penguins acquire forward Hendrix Lapierre from the Capitals in exchange for two future NHL Draft picks

(Credit for Photo: Photo Courtesy of Patrick Smith/Getty Images)

Noah Haswell, Beaver County Radio News

(Pittsburgh, PA) Pittsburgh Penguins President of Hockey Operations and General Manager Kyle Dubas announced yesterday that the Penguins have acquired forward Hendrix Lapierre from the Washington Capitals in exchange for a 2027 third-round pick and 2028 fifth-round pick. The twenty-four-year-old Lapierre is a pending restricted free agent who spent the 2025-26 season with the Capitals, skating in 74 games and tallying four goals, 12 assists and 16 points. 

Steelers sign cornerback Ahmari Harvey

(Credit and Caption for Photo: Georgia Tech defensive back Ahmari Harvey reacts after breaking up a pass in the second half of a game against Colorado, Aug. 29, 2025, in Boulder, Colo. (AP))

Noah Haswell, Beaver County Radio News

(Pittsburgh, PA) The Pittsburgh Steelers recently signed cornerback Ahmari Harvey. Harvey originally signed with the Denver Broncos as an undrafted free agent after the 2026 NFL Draft. He played college football at Georgia Tech for four seasons (2022-2025), after transferring from Auburn (2021). He appeared in 43 games and recorded 121 tackles, including 98 solo stops while at Georgia Tech. He also had 12 passes defensed, five and a half tackles for a loss, four interceptions, two forced fumbles, two fumble recoveries and one sack. 

Pirates manager Don Kelly earns 100th career win as an MLB manager

(File Photo: Source for Photo: Pittsburgh Pirates manager Don Kelly stands on the dugout steps during the first inning of a baseball game against the Chicago Cubs in Pittsburgh, Tuesday, Sept. 16, 2025. (AP Photo/Gene J. Puskar)

Noah Haswell, Beaver County Radio News

(Pittsburgh, PA) Pittsburgh Pirates manager Don Kelly earned his 100th career win as an MLB manager when the Pirates defeated the Seattle Mariners at PNC Park yesterday 5-1. Kelly was promoted to interim manager on May 8th, 2025 after the Pirates fired Derek Shelton. In Kelly’s first season as manager of the Pirates, the team has finished the first half of the 2026 season with a 41-40 record. 

Pirates place Spencer Horwitz on the 10-day injured list

(File Photo: Source for Photo: Pittsburgh Pirates’ Spencer Horwitz watches his single off Colorado Rockies starting pitcher Michael Lorenzen in the third inning of a baseball game Sunday, June 21, 2026, in Denver. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)

PITTSBURGH (AP) — The Pittsburgh Pirates placed first baseman Spencer Horwitz on the 10-day injured list Thursday because of a left hamstring injury.

Horwitz was injured Wednesday night in an 11-1 win over the Seattle Mariners. He felt a grabbing sensation in his leg while grounding into a double play in the third inning. He was removed for a pinch-hitter an inning later.

In 74 games this season, Horwitz is hitting .280 with 10 home runs and 33 RBIs.

Infielder Jack Brannigan was recalled from Double-A Altoona. The 25-year-old has yet to make it in the big leagues after being selected in the third round of the 2012 draft from Notre Dame.

The Pirates and Mariners were set to finish a three-game series on Thursday.

Brandon Lowe, Henry Davis each homer to lead Pirates over Mariners 5-1

(File Photo: Source for Photo: Pittsburgh Pirates’ Brandon Lowe hits a solo home run off Seattle Mariners pitcher Bryce Miller during the first inning of a baseball game in Pittsburgh, Thursday, June 25, 2026. (AP Photo/Gene J. Puskar)

PITTSBURGH (AP) — Brandon Lowe hit his team-leading 19th home run of the season and Henry Davis had a two-run blast as the Pittsburgh Pirates beat the Seattle Mariners 5-1 on Thursday.

Lowe’s homer was a solo shot off Bryce Miller with one out in the bottom of the first inning to open the scoring. He added an RBI single in a two-run eighth. Lowe also leads the Pirates with 51 runs batted in after being acquired from Tampa Bay in an offseason trade.

Davis entered the game with a .136 batting average. However, the catcher’s two-run home run, his sixth, in the third inning pushed the Pirates’ lead to 3-1. Davis finished 2 for 3 to raise his average to .148.

Miller (3-2) tied his career high with 11 strikeouts in just 5 2/3 innings. Miller also had no walks as the American League West leaders lost two of three in the series.

Rookie Bubba Chandler (3-7) pitched 5 1/3 innings for the win, allowing one run and five hits while striking out four and walking three. Evan Sisk, Yohan Ramirez, Mason Montgomery and Gregory Soto combined for 3 2/3 scoreless relief innings.

J.P. Crawford singled home the Mariners’ lone run in fifth inning.

Ryan O’Hearn had an RBI single in the eighth for the Pirates.

Up next

Mariners: RHP Luis Castillo (2-6, 5.32 ERA) pitches against Guardians LHP Joey Cantillo (6-3, 4.05) on Friday night in the opener a three-game series in Cleveland.

Pirates: Open a three-game series against visiting Cincinnati on Friday night. The Pirates are starting Paul Skenes (6-7, 2,86) while LHP Andrew Abbott (5-4, 3.83) gets the ball for the Reds.

Pirates first baseman Spencer Horwitz injured with hamstring issue

(File Photo: Source for Photo: Pittsburgh Pirates’ Spencer Horwitz watches his single off Colorado Rockies starting pitcher Michael Lorenzen in the third inning of a baseball game Sunday, June 21, 2026, in Denver. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)

PITTSBURGH (AP) — Pittsburgh Pirates first baseman Spencer Horwitz left in the fourth inning against Seattle with discomfort in his left hamstring Wednesday night.

Esmerlyn Valdez pinch hit for Horwitz and had an RBI single during a five-run fourth in which the Pirates took a 5-1 lead.

Horwitz finished 1 for 3 and is hitting .280 with 10 home runs, 33 RBIs and 40 walks in 74 games.