Mitch Keller, Brandon Lowe lead Pirates to series-clinching win against Diamondbacks

Colin Beazley, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette on May 7, 2026

Published in Baseball

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PHOENIX — The Pirates beat the Arizona Diamondbacks, 4-2, on Thursday afternoon at Chase Field, taking two of three from the Diamondbacks.

Mitch Keller (4-1) delivered six strong innings to lead the Pirates to a win.

Diamondbacks starter Zac Gallen (1-3) took the loss after allowing solo homers to Brandon Lowe and Joey Bart. Gregory Soto pitched a clean ninth for his second save in two games.

Just as he did on Wednesday, Brandon Lowe started Thursday’s game with a solo homer just two batters in. He now has 10 homers, two more than Pirates second basemen had in all of 2025, and finished the day 3 for 5 with two singles.

Keller struggled with his command early. He fell behind on eight of the first 13 batters he faced, and after a first-inning RBI single from Adrian Del Castillo and a solo homer in the third from Corbin Carroll, the Pirates trailed, 2-1.

But Keller found his command, retiring nine consecutive batters from the fourth through the sixth. He was pulled after allowing a leadoff single in the seventh, finishing the day with a quality start of six-plus innings, two runs on four hits and two walks, and four strikeouts.

While Keller started to cruise, the Pirates challenged Arizona starter Gallen. Gallen had largely dominated after Lowe’s homer, but with two outs in the fifth, the Pirates strung together four consecutive baserunners to take the lead. Lowe started it with a single, followed by a Bryan Reynolds walk, then RBI singles from Ryan O’Hearn and Spencer Horwitz.

Bart added to the Pirates’ lead with a solo homer off Gallen in the sixth, his second of the year. Bart finished the game 2 for 4.

It was over when …

… Isaac Mattson got the Pirates out of a jam in the eighth. Mason Montgomery started the inning and walked Geraldo Perdomo and allowed a Carroll single. Mattson came in to face pinch-hitting Nolan Arenado and struck him out.

On the mound

The Pirates somewhat shifted their bullpen usage in the game. Don Kelly turned to Dennis Santana against the bottom of the Diamondbacks order after Keller in the seventh, then used Montgomery for the first time in a week in the eighth. Soto pitched the ninth for the second consecutive game.

Santana, who allowed multiple runs in two of three games, quickly induced a double play in the seventh. After a walk, he got James McCann to ground out to Jared Triolo at third.

At the plate

The Pirates left seven on base, but did a strong job stringing together hits in the fifth against Gallen. They finished with four runs on seven hits.

Most valuable player

Lowe continues to look like an extremely solid addition to the Pirates’ lineup. After his three-hit day, which includes a knock against lefty Brandyn Garcia, he has a .941 OPS, a top-20 mark in baseball.

Up next

The Pirates head to San Francisco for a three-game set against the Giants, who enter with a majors-worst 14-23 record. Carmen Mlodzinski (2-2, 4.76 ERA) will start for the Pirates against Giants left-hander Robbie Ray (2-4, 2.95).

Injury notes

Prior to the game, the Pirates added right-hander Cam Sanders from the taxi squad and placed right-hander Chris Devenski on the 15-day injured list with an undisclosed illness. Devenski had been suspended for the prior two games after throwing at Reds rookie Sal Stewart.

Sanders, who arrived in Arizona on Wednesday, has a 12.00 ERA in three innings. It’s his third time being called up from Triple-A Indianapolis this season

Additionally, Jake Mangum was originally scheduled to start Thursday, but he was scratched minutes before first pitch with right hamstring tightness. Billy Cook started in his place.