Five-run fifth, 15-hit day key Pirates to sweep-avoiding win against Rangers

Colin Beazley, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette on Jun 22, 2025

Published in Baseball

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PITTSBURGH — In a season where not much has gone right offensively for the Pirates, Sunday was a nice respite.

The Pirates scored five runs in the fifth inning alone, breaking open what was a tied ballgame. Three players had three-hit days. The result was a 8-3 win against the Texas Rangers, avoiding a three-game sweep.

Texas scored two runs off starter Bailey Falter in the second inning, capitalizing when Falter walked the first two batters of the inning. After the first two games of the series, the two-run lead felt large.

But the Pirates tied it up in the fourth, scoring twice on three consecutive singles, including an RBI knock from Ke’Bryan Hayes and a Tommy Pham sacrifice fly.

The game was decided in the fifth. Rangers starter Jack Leiter was pulled after a walk, having thrown 88 pitches, and Pittsburgh pummeled reliever Caleb Boushley. They scored five runs, four charged to Boushley, on five hits. Second baseman Nick Gonzales had the go-ahead single, scoring center fielder Oneil Cruz, before first baseman Spencer Horwitz had the deciding two-run double.

The Pirates tacked on a run in the seventh, but the original outburst was enough.

Several struggling Pirates had big days at the plate. Right fielder Bryan Reynolds, who entered on a 1 for 27 skid, went 3 for 4 with a walk and a double. Pham went 3 for 3 with two doubles, three RBIs and his sacrifice fly. The doubles were Pham’s first extra-base hits since April 26 against the Dodgers in Los Angeles.

Horwitz hasn’t been struggling, as he’s had a hit in seven of the last eight games, but had his best performance Sunday. He went 3 for 4 with two doubles, two RBIs and three runs scored.

It was over when …

… the Pirates stopped a Texas rally in the top of the sixth. Down five runs, the Rangers led off with a single and a walk against Falter. After Falter got designated hitter Josh Smith to fly out, reliever Caleb Ferguson entered and got two quick outs, holding Texas to one run.

Ferguson pitched a 1-2-3 seventh, recording five key outs for the Pirates.

On the mound

Falter earned his sixth win of the season, although wasn’t at his best. He walked five batters, tied for a season-high, and needed 89 pitches (also tied for a season-high) through 5 1/3 innings. He struck out just one, though it came with two on and perennial All-Star Corey Seager at the plate.

At the plate

The Pirates had 15 hits, tied for their second-most this season. Five doubles are a season-high.

Most valuable player

Hayes. Hayes’ statline doesn’t stand out on an all-around good offensive day: 2 for 4 with two singles, a run and an RBI, but it doesn’t reflect his defense. He made two important diving stops, including one on a grounder that saved two runs in the third.

Up next

The Pirates hit the road, headed to Milwaukee for a three-game set starting Monday against the Brewers. Right-hander Chad Patrick (3-7, 3.50 ERA) will throw for the Brewers, with first pitch scheduled for 7:40 p.m. ET, while the Pirates have not yet announced a starter for a likely bullpen day.

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