Pittsburg, PA

Pirates Blow Late Lead, Get Swept by Nationals in Doubleheader

Published

1 year ago

September 8, 2024

Pirates Blow Late Lead, Get Swept by Nationals in Doubleheader

It wasn’t the best day to play two for the Pittsburgh Pirates on Saturday.

Pittsburgh was swept in their doubleheader against the Washington Nationals, dropping the first game 5-3 and blowing a two-run lead in the ninth inning en route to an 8-6 loss in the night-cap.

in the second game, the Pirates jumped out to a 3-0 lead before Washington clawed back to make it 4-4 heading into the eighth inning. Isiah Kiner-Falefa gave Pittsburgh the lead with an RBI single and added an insurance run on a fielder’s choice on a groundball to second base. Aroldis Chapman came on for a save and had the Nationals down to their final out with Drew Millas on second base.

Then things unraveled for the Pirates and Chapman.

A James Wood single trimmed the lead to one and he advanced to second base on a single from Andrés Chaparro. A pinch-hit two-run double from Illdemaro Vargas that hit off of Connor Joe’s glove gave Washington the lead 7-6 and it tacked on one more run on another double from Keibert Ruiz.

Chaparro and Ruiz each went 3-for-5. Chaparro hit a home run and drove in three runs, while Ruiz hit two doubles.

Colin Holderman came into the game and escaped the jam, but the damage had already been done. Pittsburgh went down in order against Kyle Finnegan to end the game. The save was Finnegan’s 36th of the season.

The loss was Chapman’s fifth of the season, dropping him to 5-5. Chapman is 6 of 11 in save opportunities this season. Mitch Keller pitched six innings, allowed seven hits, two runs and struck out eight batters.

Kiner-Falefa, Oneil Cruz and Jared Triolo each had multi-hit games for the Pirates.

In the first game of the doubleheader, Pittsburgh struggled to muster any offense, as it didn’t get its first hit until the seventh inning on a Nick Gonzales and he scored on a two-run home run from Rowdy Tellez. Pittsburgh loaded the bases with one out in the bottom of the ninth inning, but Finnegan got Bryan De la Cruz to ground into a double play to end the game.

Luis Ortiz took the loss, dropping to 6-5 on the season after allowing six hits and four runs (three earned). Nationals left-hander DJ Herz earned the win after pitching five no-hit innings and struck out three batters.

Pittsburgh will look to split the series on Sunday when they face the Nationals at 1:35 p.m. ET. Jared Jones will get the start for the Pirates, while Patrick Corbin will toe the slab for Washington.

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Pittsburg, PA

Oneil Cruz Powers Pirates Past Astros

Published

4 hours ago

February 28, 2026

Press Room

PITTSBURGH — Oneil Cruz needs to have a great season for the Pittsburgh Pirates in 2026 and his strong Spring Training continued in their most recent victory.

Cruz hit a three-run home run off of Houston Astros right-handed pitcher Jayden Murray in the top of the fifth inning, playing a big role in the 5-2 victory at CACTI Park of the Palm Beaches in West Palm Beach, Fla.

He waited on a changeup on the second pitch, 85.1 mph over the middle of the plate and sent it 106.4 mph off the bat and 368 feet, scoring both left fielder Billy Cook and third baseman Alika Williams with two outs.

That marks the first home run for Cruz in the Grapefruit League, who has had a great Spring Training so far, slashing .538/.600/.846 for an OPS of 1.446 in five games, with seven hits in 13 at-bats.

Pittsburgh got the win after the top of the sixth inning, after a rain delay ended the game.

Pirates Rookie Pitchers Have Up-And-Down Showing vs. Astros

Right-handed pitcher Braxton Ashcraft made his second start for the Pirates in the Grapefruit League and dominated vs. the Astros.

Sep 15, 2025; Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA; Pittsburgh Pirates starting pitcher Braxton Ashcraft (67) delivers a pitch against the Chicago Cubs during the first inning at PNC Park. Mandatory Credit: Charles LeClaire-Imagn Images | Charles LeClaire-Imagn Images

Ashcraft threw three scoreless innings, allowing just one hit and a walk, while posting two strikeouts for Pittsburgh.

Former Pirates pitcher, right-handed starter Mike Burrows, countered Ashcraft for the Astros. He threw three scoreless innings himself, allowed one hit and a walk and posted four strikeouts.

The Pirates traded Burrows to the Houston Astros in the three-team trade with the Tampa Bay Rays on Dec. 19, that landed them second baseman Brandon Lowe, outfielder Jake Mangum and left-handed relief pitcher Mason Montgomery.

Right-handed pitcher Bubba Chandler made his second appearance for the Pirates in the Grapefruit League and threw two innings.

Chandler immediately loaded the bases, walking both third baseman Carlos Correa and first baseman Christian Walker, then giving up a single to center fielder Cam Smith.

He came back and struckout right fielder Taylor Trammell and got left fielder Zach Dezenzo to pop out, but gave up a single to second baseman Brice Matthews and a run to the Astros, before ending the inning with a strikeout.

Chandler also gave up a solo home run to Astros third baseman Isaac Paredes, on a slider down in the zone.

He finished his outing with three hits, three walks and two earned runs allowed over 1.1 innings pitched, before left-handed pitcher Derek Diamond got the last two outs of the inning.

Chandler struggled in his first Spring Training start vs. the New York Yankees at LECOM Park in Bradenton on Feb. 23, where he allowed four earned runs over 1.2 innings of work.

Feb 23, 2026; Bradenton, Florida, USA; Pittsburgh Pirates pitcher Bubba Chandler (36) throws a pitch during the second inning against the New York Yankees at LECOM Park. Mandatory Credit: Kim Klement Neitzel-Imagn Images | Kim Klement Neitzel-Imagn Images

The Pirates will need better showings from Chandler, who should serve as a key piece of their starting rotation in 2026.

Other Important Notes from Pirates Victory

The Pirates added two runs in the top of the sixth inning, as Cook hit a single that scored second baseman Nick Yorke and then Williams singled, scoring Cook to make it a 5-2 ball game.

Cook had just one hit in eight at-bats coming into this game and scored twice in the victory, as he walked before the Cruz home run.

Designated hitter Marcell Ozuna led the Pirates with two hits, a good sign for them, as they’ll rely on him greatly for his power and hitting in 2026.

The Pirates are now 7-2 in the Grapefruit League and tied with the Yankees for the top of the standings.

Make sure to visit Pirates OnSI for the latest news, updates, interviews and insight on the Pittsburgh Pirates!

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