Pittsburgh — Despite their lackluster offense, the Pirates have managed to win baseball games.
On the day the Pirates tied a major league record with their 26th consecutive game with four or fewer runs, they won anyway, beating the Cincinnati Reds 3-1 on Wednesday afternoon at PNC Park. The Pirates took two out of three from the Reds, allowing one run over the final 18 innings.
They equaled the 1931 Boston Braves and 1969 California Angels for the all-time record with their 26th straight game of four or fewer.
After pitching five innings, Pirates starter Andrew Heaney gave up one run on three hits and two walks. He had four strikeouts. The last four innings were pitched by four relievers. Dennis Santana recorded his sixth save of the season while pitching the ninth.
In the first inning against Reds starter Brady Singer, the Pirates appeared to be ready to shake off their offensive slump. Shortstop Isiah Kiner-Falefa doubled center fielder Oneil Cruz to third after Cruz singled to start the game and break a 0 for 18 drought.
Designated hitter Bryan Reynolds hit a sacrifice fly to score Cruz and advance Kiner-Falefa to third. Kiner-Falefa was sent home on an Alexander Canario lineout to shallow left field and was thrown out comfortably by right fielder Rece Hinds, even though the throw was slightly offline.
In the third, Heaney led the Reds to a two-out rally that knotted the score. Austin Hays, the designated hitter, singled to score after Santiago Espinal singled and walked to second.
Heaney won because the Pirates scored their second run in the fifth. Catcher Henry Davis singled home Ke’Bryan Hayes from second base with a hard-hit single to left with runners on first and second with one out.
When Hayes doubled and Frazier singled him home in the ninth, Pittsburgh added insurance, and it was over.
On the mound
Heaney wasn’t at his sharpest, needing 97 pitches to complete five innings. But he only allowed one run, while the bullpen did its job to secure the win. Chase Shugart, Tanner Rainey, Caleb Ferguson and Santana combined for the final four innings.
At the plate
The Pirates weren’t able to bring many runners home but did hit Singer fairly well. They ended the game with nine hits, going 3 for 9 with runners in scoring position.
Most valuable player
Davis proved a surprising hero. Beyond calling the game, he also went 2 for 2 with a walk and an RBI. He threw out a runner stealing to end the seventh and on a relay throw home in the sixth deked a runner and made it look like he had more time before tagging him out.
Roster move
Before the game, the Pirates optioned starting pitcher Carmen Mlodzinski to Triple-A Indianapolis and called up right-hander Mike Burrows.
Former reliever Mlodzinski started nine games with the Pirates. His ERA was 5.67 and he was 1-4. Burrows was called up earlier this season but did not play in any games. He made his big league debut in the last game of the previous season.
Next up
At 6:40 p.m. ET on Thursday, the Pirates will begin a four-game series against the Milwaukee Brewers at PNC Park.
Thursday’s matchup will reportedly feature two pitchers making their 2025 debuts. Burrows will throw for the Pirates, making just the second start of the year, while the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel reported right-hander Carlos Rodriguez will start for the Brewers. Rodriguez made three starts in 2024, losing all three and finishing with a 7.30 ERA.
